Weigelia 'Alexandra'
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Lovely burgundy foliage (3); They seem like they will be tough enough for our climate; Good vase life.
Year 2:
Excellent leaf color; Tall strong stems with attractive dark maroon foliage B Nice red flowers.
Problems:
Year 1:
Just a smattering of flowers, very prostrate habit; Didn't flower this year; Too short and seemed to flower in heat of summer due to stress; Takes 2-3 years to reach economic production, short stem length is first year.
Year 2:
A little short in 2nd year; probably requires 3 or more years B Weigelia are slow growing; Flowers do not hold well when cut.
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants alive at end of summer (%) | Plants flowering (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 90.6 | 41.6 | 2.5 | 21.3 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 67 | 8.5 | 30.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 7-10 | 20-40 | 3-4 | 4-0 | 4-0 | 5-0 | 5-0 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
North Creek Nursery (NC)
388 North Creek Rd.
Landenberg, PA 19350
610-255-0100
FAX 610-255-4762
Comments:
Year 1:
Similar to 'Wine and Roses', which is trademarked, looks about the same to me; We didn't cut any stems this year, too short and waiting for them to grow for next year.
Year 2:
Similar to Weigelia florida B Good fall foliage; We think this will be a good Agreens@ foliage item.