Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Needs full sun for best flowering and foliage color, but will tolerate very light shade. Prune to shape immediately after flowering.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Weigela is a genus of about 12 species of deciduous shrubs from East Asia. They are grown for their showy spring flowers.
The genus name Weigela honors Christian Ehrenfried Weigel (1748-1831), German professor at the University of Geifswald.
'Red Prince' is a dense, upright, oval-rounded, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 6-9' tall and as wide. It features funnel-shaped red flowers (to 1.5" long) that bloom in mid to late spring, with a scattered and much less significant repeat bloom sometimes occurring in late summer to early autumn. Flowers retain bright red color as they age, rather than fading to dull red with purple tones. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Elliptic to oblong to obovate, medium green leaves (to 4 1/2” long) produce little if any fall color. 'Red Prince' is sometimes commercially sold as a cultivar of Weigela florida.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Good flowering and foliage shrub. Specimen or group for shrub borders. Also effective as a hedge. May be incorporated into a foundation planting.