Weigela japonica aka Japanese Weigela

Weigela japonica, or Japanese weigela, is a large deciduous shrub. It belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Kew places its native range in southern China and southern Japan. Plants For A Future also lists Korea within its range. That source records it on sunny hills and mountain slopes. These sites lie from about 330–5,900 feet [100–1,800 metres] above sea level. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain.

The shrub has a bushy shape with spreading branches. The RHS describes plants around 16 feet [5 metres] tall. Its listed garden size spans 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] in height and width. Plants take about 10–20 years to reach their full size. The leaves are dark green, oval, and tapered at the tip. They fall each year rather than staying through winter. Its broad form needs space as the branches develop.

Flowers appear in late spring and early summer. New blooms start pale pink or close to white. They turn a deep red as they age. This colour change means flower colour shifts through the bloom period. The RHS lists the shrub for cottage and informal gardens. It also suits hedges, screens, and planting near walls. Plants For A Future includes it for woodland edges. Those settings may offer sun, broken shade, or a shaded edge.

Grow it in sun or partial shade in a sheltered spot. The RHS describes it as easy to grow in fertile soil. It prefers moist soil that allows excess water to drain. Suitable soils include chalk, clay, loam, and sand. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H6. Prune after flowering in midsummer; restore old plants in early spring. It responds well to pruning. Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer. Hardwood cuttings are another option in late autumn and winter.

Possible pests include leaf and bud eelworms, capsid bugs, and brown scale. Honey fungus may also affect the shrub. Plants For A Future reports no known food uses. It describes the leaves as mildly poisonous. The same source records a traditional wash for sores. This reported use does not establish that home treatment is safe.