Botanical Name: Weigela japonica
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Weigela
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rubiales
Synonyms: Diervilla japonica. D. versicolor.
Common Names:
Habitat:Weigela japonica is native to E. Asia – C. and S. Japan.It grows on sunny hills and in mountains at elevations of 100 – 1800 metres.
Description:
Weigela japonica is a deciduous Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft 5in). The leaves are 5–15 cm long, ovate-oblong with an acuminate tip, and with a serrated margin. The flowers are 2–4 cm long, with a five-lobed white, pink, or red (rarely yellow) corolla, produced in small corymbs of several together in early summer.
It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Cultivation:
An easily grown plant, succeeding in most fertile soils. Prefers a moist well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates atmospheric pollution. Plants are very floriferous and can exhaust themselves, literally flowering themselves to death. The flowers are borne in the leaf nodes of the previous years growth and any pruning is therefore best done as soon as the plant has finished flowering. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagation:
Through Seed – . Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Softwood basal cuttings, 10 – 12cm long, in a sandy soil in a cold frame in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 8 – 10 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. 20 cm long, November in a sheltered outdoor nursery bed.
Edible Uses: Not Known to us.
Medicinal Uses: Salve. Used as a wash for virulent sores. In September 2014 another study demonstrated and reported on the fact that the Unique Active ingredient 6-MITC in Wasabia japonica was very good at killing Lung Cancer cells.
Other Uses: Plants can be grown as a hedge.
Known Hazards: The leaves are slightly toxic.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Weigela+japonica
