This Dense Privacy Shrub Is Full Of Tubular Flowers That Are Perfect For Hummingbirds

Hummingbird lovers, get excited because the weigela (Weigela florida) is your ticket to attracting these jewels-in-flight to your yard. Also called old-fashioned weigela, the shrub originated in parts of East Asia and is a member of the honeysuckle family. The abundance of flowers this shrub produces is evident in its name alone, since "florida" refers to the plant's ample flower supply in spring and summer. Now, it's easy to understand why hummingbirds flock to it. Weigela is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and thrives in moist, well-drained soil with 1 inch of water every 10 days. To achieve the best flowering and leaf color, you can plant the shrub in full sun, though it also grows well in lightly shaded locations. 

Providing hummingbirds with a tasty treat isn't all that weigela is good for, though. In fact, part of its versatile nature is its ability to grow like a hedge, making it a popular landscaping plant as a result. It can be used as a border or a living privacy wall by creating structure in your garden and enhancing the seclusion and charm of your outdoor space, with some added flair. On the other hand, the plant can also be the belle of your garden's ball by acting as a singular, stunning focal point. Undoubtedly, weigela is one of the best shrubs to grow in your yard.

There are a few reasons why weigela is ideal as a privacy shrub. Like the rays of the sun stretching across the horizon at sunset, weigela extends across the soil in the same way, making for a perfect floral wall. Moreover, larger varieties can grow 6 to 10 feet tall and 9 to 12 feet wide giving you lots of coverage wherever the shrub resides in your yard. The foliage grows densely, leaving your neighbors to their own imagination when they wonder what lies on the other side of the beautiful weigela blocking their view.

As for the shrub being prized by hummingbirds, this is largely due to their tubular flowers that make it easy for their delicate, spear-like beaks to sip deeply from. The weigela blossoms are also nectar-rich and fragrant. Plus, they come in shades of red and pink, which are colors you should add to the garden to help attract hummingbirds.

If the thought of growing a full-size weigela sounds overwhelming, but you don't want to miss out on bringing hummingbird visitors to your yard, you can have the best of both worlds by planting a smaller weigela cultivar, instead. A number of cultivars from the weigela are small enough to grow in pots, which is a perfect option for those with limited garden space. These are usually dwarf weigelas like the Verweig and Minuet.

The Verweig dwarf weigela grows pink flowers along its small 12 to 18 inch frame with tri-colored leaves. Meanwhile, the Minuet dwarf weigela grows no more than 30 inches, is one of the smallest types and produces reddish or purple flowers that hummingbirds will adore. Plus, if you still need some added privacy, you can DIY a unique 3-tier outdoor plant stand and place multiple Minuet dwarf weigelas inside of it. This will account for the vertical and horizontal coverage naturally provided by a full-size weigela while still giving you the chance to move the plants around.