Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Weigela florida 'Alexandra'
Wine & Roses Weigela
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Height
- 4 to 5 feet
- Width
- 4 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Vibrant rose-pink
- Foliage color
- Deep burgundy or wine-purple color, maintaining its richness throughout the growing season
- Bloom time
- Late spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Low; prune after flowering to shape and encourage new growth
- Growing zone
- USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
About this plant
Weigela florida 'Alexandra' produces abundant, funnel-shaped rosy to hot-pink flowers in late spring to early summer, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Glossy, oval leaves emerge deep burgundy and mature to rich burgundy-purple, with the dark coloring intensifying as the season progresses. Dense, rounded branching creates a substantial leafy framework, while the vivid flowers stand out beautifully against the dark foliage, giving the shrub a long season of ornamental color.
Developed by Herman Geers in Boskoop, Netherlands, 'Alexandra' was released in 1989 and is widely marketed as Wine & Roses®. Its combination of richly colored foliage and prolific flowering makes it especially effective in mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, informal hedges, mass plantings, and specimen settings, where it provides strong contrast throughout the growing season.
Companion plants
Irises · Peruvian lily · Aster · Pampas grass · Stonecrop · Fothergilla
Design tip
Treat Wine & Roses Weigela’s burgundy foliage as a season-long color block, not simply a backdrop for its flowers. Contrast it with fresh green or silvery foliage to sharpen its outline, while the rose-pink blooms add a brighter layer in spring.
