dwarf purple-leaf weigela

order: dipsacales
family: caprifoliaceae
genus: weigela
species: florida
cultivar: 'nana purpurea'

weigela early summer 2012.

This is a dwarf cultivar of a very vigorous plant that can often be found in parks and private gardens. With me the plant's true potential wasn't let to unfurl itself due to the use of small basket. After seeing how often the soil was let to dry out, I regret not having given it a pot of a size that can retain more water.

It is true that this plant is very easy to grow. The only time it would complain is really when the soil has been completely dry for an extended period of time. When this happens, its leaves become soft and hanging. However, after receiving water for a couple of hours, they bounce back to their usual sturdy position.

I bought this plant from an online shop in 2012. It was pruned very hard prior to delivery. So in that year, the plant didn't flower. This year, a small amount of flowers grew on the previous-year branches. They resemble the flowers of other plants belonging to the honeysuckle family that I have -- long tubular forms in clusters, pinkish petals with some amber coloration in their throats. The leaves themselves are at first green and turn into a dark purple when hardened later, just as the name implies.

I'm thinking of planting it out in the garden among other bushes in the spring next year, since I have started to redesign a corner of our garden which can make use of plants like this. I think this plant will perform a lot better in the ground.

weigela early summer 2013.