Weigela florida ("Obeniutsugi")

Japanese name: オオベニウツギ （大紅空木）
Scientific name: Weigela florida

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 1–3 m tall.
Young branches are ridged, with hairs only on the ridges.
Leaves are simple and opposite, broadly elliptic, 4–6 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, with sparse short hairs on the upper surface and many hairs along the midrib on both surfaces.
The leaf margins are serrated.
Corymbs arise from the leaf axils and branch tips, each bearing 2–3 flowers.
The flowers are deep purplish red; the corolla is funnel-shaped, 3–3.5 cm long, widening somewhat into a bell shape in the upper part, with 5 lobes at the tip.
There are 5 stamens.
The fruit is a slender cylindrical capsule 2–2.5 cm long; when ripe it splits in two, leaving the tip and the central axis, and releases fine 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.

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