Weigela (Weigela florida 'Verweig' MY MONET)
Discover Weigela florida 'Verweig' MY MONET, a dwarf, low-maintenance shrub offering variegated foliage and soft pink blooms.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET is a standout cultivar prized for its compact size and stunning three-season interest. Unlike larger Weigela relatives, this dwarf variety maintains a tidy, rounded habit perfectly suited for smaller garden spaces. Its primary appeal lies in the finely textured, variegated leaves splashed with pink, cream, and green, reminiscent of impressionist art.
This deciduous shrub offers reliable performance across USDA Zones 4 through 8. It provides a refreshing display of soft pink, campanulate flowers beginning in late spring and often continuing sporadically through the summer months. As a low-maintenance plant, Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET fits seamlessly into contemporary landscape designs where impact with minimal upkeep is desired.
Attracting attention with its colorful, mounding form, this Weigela variant is significantly smaller than the species form, making it a highly versatile player in the garden border or containers. Its ease of growth ensures that even novice gardeners can enjoy the textural beauty of this miniature specimen.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: April to June
- Bloom Description: Soft pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal performance, plant your Weigela in the spring or fall after the danger of hard frost has passed. This shrub thrives best when situated in a location receiving full sun, although it will tolerate some light or dappled shade; however, reduced sunlight leads to less vibrant foliage color. It is easily grown in average, medium moisture conditions, provided the soil is well-drained.
Established Weigela require medium watering, meaning consistent moisture, especially during hot, dry spells. This variety exhibits good tolerance for clay soils, which is a significant advantage for many gardeners. Fertilization is rarely necessary; overly rich soil can sometimes encourage more leaf growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning should be done judiciously. If shaping is required, perform it immediately after the main flowering period concludes in late spring. Avoid heavy pruning during late summer or fall, as this can remove wood that might produce subsequent blooms. Propagation is often successful using stem cuttings taken in summer.
Landscape Uses
The diminutive size of Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET makes it incredibly useful for defining spaces without overwhelming them. It excels when used as an edging plant, providing a neat, colorful border along pathways or driveways where its low habit ensures clear sightlines.
This weeping variety is perfect for foundation plantings or tucked into mixed shrub borders where its variegated foliage can contrast textural or colorfully with surrounding greenery. Furthermore, due to its controlled spread, it serves beautifully as a specimen plant in medium-to-large containers, brightening patios through the season. Mass planting several units together can create a striking, low groundcover effect across small, visible slopes.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Weigela florida is native to northern China, Korea and Japan. It is a dense, rounded, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 6-10’ tall and may spread over time to as much as 12’ wide. Branching is somewhat coarse, and branches on mature shrubs tend to arch toward the ground. Funnel-shaped, rose pink flowers (each to 1.25” long) bloom profusely in spring, with a sparse and scattered repeat bloom often occurring in mid to late summer. Elliptic to obovate, medium green leaves (to 4.5” long) with serrate margins retain good color throughout the growing season. Insignificant fall color. Fruit is inconspicuous. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds.The genus name Weigela honors Christian Ehrenfried Weigel (1748-1831), German professor at the University of Geifswald.The specific epithet florida means “freely flowering”, in reference to the flowering habit of this species.‘Verweig’, commonly sold under the trade name of MY MONET, is a dwarf, rounded, deciduous weigela that typically grows to only 12-18” tall and as wide. It is noted for its small size, pink flowers and variegated (pink, cream and green) foliage. It was discovered as a sport (branch mutation) of Weigela florida ‘Tango’. Campanulate, soft pink flowers bloom in late spring, with scattered repeat bloom occurring throughout summer. Elliptic to ovate leaves (to 3” long) have green centers surrounded by creamy white with pink on the margins. The impressionistic leaves are purportedly reminiscent of the work of Monet, hence the trade name. U.S. Plant Patent PP16,824 was issued on July 18, 2006
Tolerances
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
This cultivar generally enjoys a reputation for being free of serious insect or disease problems in the landscape. Gardeners should mainly monitor for common sap-sucking pests like aphids if plants are stressed or placed in overly poor conditions. Proper cultural practices, particularly ensuring adequate sunlight and good air circulation, will minimize any vulnerability to minor issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Weigela suitable for?
Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET grow?
This dwarf Weigela typically matures to a height and spread between 1 and 1.5 feet tall and wide.
When does Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET bloom?
It features soft pink blooms starting in April and continuing through June, often followed by a scattered repeat bloom in summer.
What sun exposure does Weigela need?
This shrub requires full sun for the best flower production and foliage coloration, though it can tolerate light shade.
Conclusion
For gardeners seeking a compact, colorful, and durable specimen, Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET provides exceptional year-round appeal with its painted foliage and charming pink flowers. This low-maintenance Weigela variety offers the visual punch of a larger shrub in a size suitable for edging and containers. Verify your location falls within USDA Zones 4-8 before planning your planting season for this miniature masterpiece.
Companion Planting
When planning borders featuring this compact Weigela, consider pairing it with plants that offer strong textural or deep color contrast. Dark green, fine-textured companions, such as dwarf evergreens or many varieties of low-growing Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa), make the variegated leaves of ‘MY MONET’ truly pop. Since it prefers similar sun and moisture levels, try pairing it with low-growing Hostas that tolerate significant sun, or low creeping Phlox for seasonal spring color beneath its canopy of blooms.
Wildlife Benefits
While the larger species of Weigela is known for attracting hummingbirds, the smaller Weigela florida ‘Verweig’ MY MONET still offers valuable nectar for pollinators. The funnel-shaped, soft pink flowers produced in late spring provide an essential early-season food source for bees emerging from dormancy. Although not its primary function, incorporating this shrub adds to the diversity of nectar sources in your yard, supporting local pollinator populations throughout the primary growing windows.
