Troubleshooting
Red Prince Weigela problems — and how to fix them
Red Prince Weigela (Weigela florida 'Red Prince') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Few flowers
Usually caused by pruning at the wrong time; prune immediately after flowering as blooms form on old wood — never in autumn or early spring.
Leggy growth
Older unpruned specimens become bare at the base; rejuvenate every 3-4 years by cutting up to one-third of the oldest stems to the ground.
Aphids
Clusters of greenfly on new shoots in spring; knock off with a jet of water or apply insecticidal soap. Natural predators usually control them.
Scale insects
Brown bumps on stems cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould; treat with a winter oil spray when dormant.
Canker
Sunken discoloured patches on stems from fungal infection; prune affected wood back to healthy tissue and dispose of cuttings away from the compost heap.
Prevent red prince weigela problems before they start
Most red prince weigela issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Red Prince Weigela problems — FAQ
Why is my red prince weigela few flowers?
Usually caused by pruning at the wrong time; prune immediately after flowering as blooms form on old wood — never in autumn or early spring.
Why is my red prince weigela leggy growth?
Older unpruned specimens become bare at the base; rejuvenate every 3-4 years by cutting up to one-third of the oldest stems to the ground.
Why is my red prince weigela aphids?
Clusters of greenfly on new shoots in spring; knock off with a jet of water or apply insecticidal soap. Natural predators usually control them.
Why is my red prince weigela scale insects?
Brown bumps on stems cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould; treat with a winter oil spray when dormant.
Why is my red prince weigela canker?
Sunken discoloured patches on stems from fungal infection; prune affected wood back to healthy tissue and dispose of cuttings away from the compost heap.