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Weigela florida 'Dark Horse' PP #14,381

Status: Out of stock

Product ID#: wdark
Product Description
Flower Color Pink
Fruit Color Brown
Mature Plant Size (H x W) 2-3' x 2-3'
Dark Horse Weigela is an excellent, smaller growing shrub. Great as a foundation plant, or add them to your perennial border. What makes this plant so special? The purplish foliage makes a great backdrop to the bright pink flowers. The leaves have lighter, chartreuse-colored veins for an interesting twist.
  • Mature Plant Size (H x W) Mature Plant Size (H x W): 2-3' x 2-3'
Key features
  • Attracts Bees
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Pollinators
Planting Care

Planting & Care for Weigela Flowering Shrubs

Preparation
  • Bushy shrubs bearing trumpet-shaped blooms.
  • Hardy to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • It’s extremely reliable and hardy and grows around 4-6 feet high.
  • Most varieties flower best if planted in full sun.
  • Shield them from strong wind, too, which can damage flowers and “burn” soft, new leaves.
  • Encourage vigorous growth by setting plants in well-drained soil, including chalk, enriched with plenty of well-decayed manure.
  • Keep bushes young and packed with blooms by removing from the base one in three of the oldest flowering stems when blooms turn fade.
  • Plant March – November
  • Prune in July.
Opening Plant Material
  • Bare Root - Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted. 
  • Containers - Completely saturate all container plants by putting in a larger container of water until stops bubbling, then remove the plant from the container. 
Planting Bare Root
  • Plant Bare root in fall. A good indicator if you can still plant is if the ground is still workable you’re good to go. If a hard frost is expected be sure to hold off on planting.
  • Dig a hole at least 6" wider and the same depth as the root mass. The crown or graft of the plant should be slightly higher than ground level where it was grown at the nursery.
  • Trim off the broken roots and branches.
  • Place fertilizer packets in hole (if purchased). Do not place other fertilizers in the planting hole. *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
  • Spread the roots and fill halfway with soil, then water until soil settles completely saturating the soil and planting pit.
  • Re-adjust plant and fill the hole with the rest of the soil.
  • Back fill the balance of the soil and water well. 
  • See our link below “Handling & Planting Guidelines” for illustrations on planting.
Planting containers
  • Plant March – November
  • Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or more wider on the sides.
  • Slide plant from pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
  • With shovel or knife trim bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
  • Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
  • Place the root ball in the hole.
  • Adjust the plant height so the root crown is slightly higher than the ground.
  • Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer
  • Back-fill the hole with soil, making sure the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
  • Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
  • Water frequently when newly planted. 
Pruning - After Planting
  • Bare Root - Prune ALL bare root plants to reduce transplant shock and ensure success. Pruning should occur either before or as soon after planting as possible. All pruning should be done with a sharp pruning shears.
  • Thin ? to ½ shrub by removing large branches. Top back some branches to improve general shape. Cut the shrub back to at least ½ its original size to promote new growth from the base. See illustrations in our link below “Handling & Planting Guidelines” to help with this process.
  • Containers - Although it is not essential for container plants to be pruned after planting, a light pruning to remove any broken branches during shipment and improve shape will help the looks of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
  • Keep bushes young and packed with blooms by removing from the base one in three of the oldest flowering stems when blooms turn fade.
  • Prune in July.
 Watering - After Planting
  • Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
  • Beyond the 6 week establishment period, water once per week, unless rains occur.
Watering - Through-out the Season
  • After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
  • How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it is dry, give it a good soaking with the hose end (no nozzle) watering the soil only, not the leaves.

Planting & Handling Help

Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.

Learn More

Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.

Plant Sizing

What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?

Shipping Times

Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.

 

Shipping Dates by Region*

 

Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th

Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th

Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th

Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th

Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th

 

Shipping Dates by Season*

 

Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May

Fall Shipping: September - November

 

Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.