Weigela coraeensis var. coraeensis ("Hakoneutsugi")

Japanese name: ハコネウツギ （箱根空木）
Scientific name: Weigela coraeensis var. coraeensis

[Overview]
A deciduous small tree up to 6 m tall, commonly found along the coast on the Pacific side.
The trunk is somewhat clump-forming, and the bark is covered with a thick cork layer and splits lengthwise.
Young branches are green, have 4 ridges, and are hairless.
Leaves are simple and decussate (opposite, in crossed pairs), but on lateral branches the leaf stalks twist, so the leaves appear to be opposite in two rows.
The leaves are broadly elliptic with an abruptly sharp point, somewhat thick, and glossy on the upper surface.
On both surfaces, short hairs grow sparsely along the veins.
The leaf margins are serrated.
Corymbs arise from the leaf axils and branch tips, each bearing 2–3 flowers 2.3–3.3 cm across.
The flowers are white from bud to early bloom and later turn crimson.
The corolla is funnel-shaped, 1.5–2 cm long, abruptly widening into a bell shape in the upper part, with 5 lobes at the tip; the lobes are half the length of the tube.
There are 5 stamens.
The fruit is a slender cylindrical capsule 2–3 cm long and 2.5–3.5 mm across; when ripe it splits in two, leaving the tip and the central axis, and releases fine winged seeds.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings, which multiply it easily.
While the plant is young, division is also possible.
In a sunny place it grows well regardless of soil type, as long as the site is not excessively wet.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer in winter.
It grows fast and becomes bushy if left alone, so thin out overly long shoots and crowded branches during the leafless season.
Powdery mildew can occur.

[Notes]
The name suggests it would grow abundantly in Hakone, but it hardly grows wild there.

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