In my ongoing quest for hummer- and butterfly attractive plants, I came across the weigela. The internet site I saw it on boosts by calling it "the ultimate magnet" for butterflies, hummers, bees and other benificiary insects.
True or not, what is your experience with these beautiful shrubs?
Thanks a bunch,
Christie
Weigela; the ultimate "hummer-magnet", or not?
When I was a kid , we had a very large weigela, and the hummers were always feeding from it. When I moved father north I planted 2 weigela, one veragated and one Wine & Roses. I really have not noticed the hummers feeding from them, they flock to my columbines instead.
And I only have the Ruby throat hummer here.
Christie - You have stumped me with this inquiry!
I am not familiar with the Weigela here in my area. In fact, I had never heard of them until you posted this thread. They do have the look of a nectar plant for hummers. And they are very pretty when in bloom, but as far as being an actual nectar plant .... I can't answer that. Perhaps certain varieties produce more nectar than others, which might explain why ladygardener1 had hummers coming to the one she remembers as a child and not really any showing interest at the ones she has planted in her yard now. Some hybrid varieties often don't produce much nectar. So good question, but I'm sorry I can't answer that one for you. Maybe someone else will know.
Shucks....it is beautiful but requires an acidic soil which I don't have....
They sure like my weigela as far as shrubs go.
Bettygail; you can feed it acidic fertilizer to obtain a good soil, I use E.B Stone for that, organic, and not burning roots.
Mine are just beginning to flower so I can't say for sure although that's why I bought them.
Maggie
Every summer my weigela has just about always got at least a couple Hummingbirds visiting it . I hav never done anything with the soil and it has bloomed profusly every one of the 12 summers that I have lived in this house! Just blessed, I guess
--Birdie ;-)
I have Weigelia "Wine and Roses" but it blooms in between the time when the scouts first come up and the main hummers start to arrive so I've never seen it used.
This Weigeilia was a mature shrub 13 years ago when I purchased my house, however, I believe it had always been trimmed back and prevented to "bush out and bloom" (which may be why the blooms are so profuse now )). It is always in full bloom from spring until the heat & humidity of mid dsummer in Carolina gets to it (it is on the SE corner of the house). This year, however, it is being horribly hindered by a profuse grape vine (Muscodine I think, as a neighbor raises them). The birds love the grapes though, so I have been waiting for the fledges to mature before I chop it (the grape vine!!) to bits...............I miss the georgeous flowers and all my little "flying jewels"
A closer look!!
