Purple-leaved Weigela

These Weigela with purple or chocolate foliage are doubly decorative deciduous bushes, with their beautiful purplish leaves and abundant spring to summer flowering. Weigela florida 'Alexandra' is the most purple of all, with very dark foliage that beautifully showcases its bright purple bell-shaped flowers. It forms a 2m (7ft) mass in all directions that attracts attention in the garden until autumn. Weigela florida Purpurea is dressed in purplish green and adorned with a multitude of fuchsia-type flowers in summer. For small gardens, consider its dwarf form 'Nana Purpurea' with abundant lilac-pink flowering. Also play with contrasts with selections combining dark foliage and white flowers: 'Ebony and Ivory', of medium size, has very dark purplish green leaves and white flowers. To adorn a terrace or balcony, try Weigela Minor Black, a small bush of 60cm (24in) in all directions with very dark purple foliage and flowers of bright purple, sometimes recurring in September.

Weigelas, easy to grow, thrive in any loose soil, including limestone, in sunny or partially shaded sites. They only fear excessively dry soil: mulching the base is a good way to retain moisture. Pruning is not necessary for free hedges, but it is well tolerated after flowering.