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Veigela Victoria is a selection species created for growing in gardens, in private plots, for landscaping the urban landscape. An ornamental shrub is found in Primorye, the Far East, Altai. It grows in undergrowth, on rocky slopes, along the banks of water bodies. Wild species have given rise to a large number of hybrids.
Description of weigela Victoria
Veigela Victoria is a short, spreading shrub 1-1.2 m high. The plant is perennial, deciduous, with an unusual color of leaves and abundant, long flowering. A beautifully flowering shrub grows slowly, the annual growth is no more than 15 cm.Winter-hardy Victoria weigela tolerates a drop in temperature to -30 0C, this feature allows you to grow shrubs almost all over Russia. Drought resistance is average, the plant requires periodic watering, but Victoria Weigela does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Use the culture for landscaping gardens, urban recreation areas, home gardens.
External description of weigela blooming Victoria:
- The shape of the crown is spherical, the diameter is about 1.5 m. The shrub is branched, densely leafy, the central shoots are upright, lateral from the base are horizontal with raised tops. Perennial stems are gray, young shoots are light brown.
- Weigela Victoria has opposite leaves, lanceolate, with sharp ends and finely toothed edges. The color is dark burgundy, closer to brown or dark green, the color depends on the lighting of the place of growth. A sheet plate with an even matte surface, the veins are presented in the form of a coarse beige mesh. Petioles are absent. The exotic color of the leaves is considered part of the decorative effect of the Victoria Weigela. On the branches, foliage lasts for a long time, without falling until the first snow.
- The root system is developed, located close to the surface, overgrown, does not respond to soil compaction.
- The seeds of the culture are small, equipped with a lionfish, are formed in small quantities, ripen by autumn.
Veigela Victoria is a perennial plant, the biological cycle is 25-30 years. It blooms in the fourth year of the growing season, reaching the end point of growth by the age of six.
How Weigela Florida Victoria blooms
Veigela Victoria is a medium flowering crop. The buds are formed on the stems of the last year in the second half of May, a week later the flowers bloom at the same time. The period is long, the main peak is in June-July. Subsequent flowering on young shoots until September is not abundant, flowers are smaller.
Feature of Victoria weigela flowers:
- bell-shaped form;
- length - 4 cm;
- collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pcs .;
- inside are painted in light pink;
- the surface is purple or dark pink with a red tint.
The photo shows weigela Victoria during the period of active flowering.
In the shade, the leaves are dull, the flowers are smaller, the color is pale.
Application of weigela Victoria in landscape design
Throughout the spring and autumn season, weigela Victoria retains its decorative effect. Due to the color of the leaves, the plant looks vivid even in the period when flowering has not begun or has already ended. Weigela complements any composition, is widely used for landscape design by professional designers and amateur gardeners. Veigela Victoria tolerates planting well, she needs little care, photos and design options using a hybrid are presented below:
- Mass planting to create a hedge.
- Decorative design of the foreground of the flower bed.
- Composition with herbaceous plants and dwarf shrubs.
- Weigela is often used as a tapeworm against a building wall.
- The culture looks good as a centerpiece with dwarf conifers.
- In a group with flowering shrubs.
Veigela Victoria not only goes well with different types of plants, but also gets along well with them. Victoria practically does not get sick, therefore it is not a hotbed of infection, it is rarely affected by pests that can spread to neighbors in the flower bed.
How weigela Victoria reproduces
There are several ways to propagate Victoria on the site: generatively and vegetatively. The first method is rarely used, the hybrid gives seeds, but out of a large number of seedlings, only 10% can get weigela with the characteristics of the mother plant, the rest of the seedlings will give a wild-growing look.
To preserve the external characteristics, weigela Victoria is bred with cuttings or layering. Cutting is the most productive and time-consuming way. The material is cut from last year's stems or young shoots. Cuttings are harvested from woody stems in early spring before the buds swell. Material is taken from the shoots of the current year in July, after the completion of the main flowering:
- Cut the cuttings from the middle of the stem. The required size is 15-25 cm.
- Placed in a container with a nutritious soil mixture.
- For the winter, the container is placed in the basement.
- In the spring, when there is no threat of frost, they are taken out to the site.
A longer, but no less productive way of reproduction of the flowering Victoria weigela is by layering. In the spring, the lower branch is bent to the ground, fixed, sprinkled with soil. Springs will appear next year in the spring. You can plant plots on the site after three years of growth.
Planting and caring for weigela Victoria
The ease of planting and subsequent care for the flowering weigela Victoria is one of the important advantages of culture. Compliance with certain conditions will allow you to grow an ornamental shrub on the site.
Recommended timing
The frost resistance of hybrids is much lower than that of cultivars, weigela Victoria is no exception. A bush planted in the fall will die in winter even with high-quality shelter. Planting is carried out in the spring before the buds swell, at a soil temperature of at least +7 0C. In the middle lane, return frosts are a common phenomenon, so a young weigela seedling is covered overnight until the temperature returns to normal.
Site selection and soil preparation
Victoria weigela will be fully decorative and abundantly flowering only in an open area. A light-loving plant does not develop well even with slight shading. The vegetation is slowed down by the influence of the north wind. The best place is the southern or eastern side of the slope. If flat terrain is chosen, it must be protected from drafts. A site in a lowland or with close groundwater is not allowed. Stagnant moisture can lead to the death of the seedling.
The soil is neutral or slightly alkaline, light, fertile, drained. Loam or sandy loam soil is suitable. Before planting, the site is dug up, compost, dolomite flour or any agent containing alkali is added.
How to plant correctly
Before planting, the root of the Victoria weigela seedling is placed in a growth stimulating preparation for 5 hours.During this time, a soil mixture is prepared from peat, sand, organic matter and soil from the planting site in equal proportions. Ash and superphosphate are added.
Sequence of action:
- They dig a hole with a diameter of 50 cm, a depth of 70 cm.The parameters are average, the main condition is that a space of 10-15 cm remains from the root to the edge of the depression.
- A layer of expanded clay gravel (10 cm) is poured at the bottom; it can be replaced with crushed stone or small stones. Top with a layer of prepared potting mix.
- The seedling is placed in the center, covered with nutritious soil, the root collar is left above the surface (5 cm).
- The near-stem circle is compacted, watered abundantly, mulched.
When placed close, the plants are intertwined with branches, the shrubs grow worse, the design element looks untidy.
Growing rules
Caring for weigela Victoria is standard, adherence to certain rules of agricultural technology will guarantee long flowering and rich color of the leaves.
Watering
Young seedlings need periodic watering at least twice a week for normal growth. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, 6 liters per bush will be enough. If summer is not dry and precipitation is normal, weigela is not watered. For an adult plant, watering is carried out 1 time at the beginning of budding and 2 times during the main flowering with plenty of water. At the end of August, watering is stopped.
Top dressing
If the planting technology is followed, microelements and nutrients added to the soil are enough for 3 years of vegetation. In the future, the plant is fed in early spring with complex mineral fertilizers. At the beginning of flowering, phosphorus and potassium-containing agents are given. In autumn, the root circle is covered with ash.
Loosening, mulching
Frequent loosening is important for young seedlings of Victoria weigela. In the first years, the plant forms a root system, therefore, an unimpeded supply of oxygen is provided. Weeds are removed as needed. Loosening is carried out no deeper than 8 cm. An adult weigel is dug up the soil of the trunk circle in spring and autumn. The crown of weigela Victoria is dense, the lower stems are located near the ground, weeds do not grow under the crop.
Weigela Victoria is mulched immediately after planting with a mixture of peat and sawdust, covered with crushed tree bark on top, for decoration purposes. In autumn, the coating layer is increased with straw or needles. In the spring, the mulch is updated, the procedure is carried out every year.
Pruning, crown shaping
Weigela Victoria does not require formation, the crown of the culture is of the correct rounded shape, the branches do not grow chaotically and do not protrude beyond the visual framework. Every spring, they carry out health-improving pruning, remove damaged and dry areas. In autumn, the plant is thinned out, twisted and thin stems are cut off. The rejuvenating procedure is carried out once every 3 years. After abundant flowering, some of the old stems are removed, annuals are cut off by 1/3. In a short period of time, weigela Victoria is restored and begins to bloom again.
Preparing for winter
Shelter for the winter is necessary for young weigel and adult shrubs, especially in temperate climates. Preparatory work:
- Weigelu Victoria is watered abundantly.
- Hilling.
- On top of the embankment they mulch.
- The branches are collected in a bunch and fixed.
- They are bent to the ground, covered with spruce branches or special material.
A continuous fence is placed in a circle, covered with dry leaves, the structure is covered with spruce branches on top.
Pests and diseases
Veigela Victoria does not respond to prolonged humidity and a decrease in night temperature, the plant is not affected by fungal and bacterial infections. The only problem is root decay with constant stagnation of water in the soil. On Victoria weigel, aphids rarely parasitize, usually this happens if an anthill is located nearby. Pests are eliminated with the "Keltan" preparation.
Conclusion
Veigela Victoria is a perennial, undersized shrub with maroon leaves and vibrant purple flowers.A hybrid with high immunity to infection and garden pests, unpretentious in care, tolerates high air humidity and low temperatures. Weigela Victoria is used for landscape design of urban neighborhoods, personal plots, gardens.
