TheNaturePlanet

Usually, we can often see Weigela 'Red Prince' and Weigela 'Variegata' by the roadside or beside parks. These two kinds of flowers both belong to the Caprifoliaceae family and are native to the United States. Perhaps because they are related, the leaves and flowers of the two plants look very similar, which leads to many flower - lovers misunderstanding them and thinking they are the same plant. Let's find out the differences between these two plants below.
Although it's difficult to distinguish between Weigela 'Red Prince' and Weigela 'Variegata' with the naked eye, if you can put these two plants together, they can actually be simply distinguished in appearance. Among them, Weigela 'Variegata' is a small tree, and the height of the plant generally does not exceed two meters. The branches are relatively sparse. When the plant is young, the branches are green, and when the plant gets older, the branches will turn brown. The leaves are simple and opposite, oval - shaped, and the edges of the leaves are serrated. While Weigela 'Red Prince' is a clustered shrub. When the plant is young to adult, the branches are light - red, and when the plant gets older, the branches will turn brown. The leaves are oval - like and smaller than those of Weigela 'Variegata', but they are more slender than those of Weigela 'Variegata'.
In other aspects, they can be distinguished by the flowering period. The flowers of Weigela 'Variegata' generally bloom in spring, and the longest flowering period can last until about June. Its flowers all have five petals, and there is a small funnel - like corolla in the middle of the corolla. The flower colors are quite diverse, including white, purple, pink, etc. After the flowers wither, fruits begin to form, and the fruiting period generally matures from August to September. The flowering time of Weigela 'Red Prince' is a little later than that of Weigela 'Variegata'. It generally blooms in summer and the flowering period lasts until about September. Its flowers also have five petals, but compared with Weigela 'Variegata', the flower color is more monotonous, with only bright - red flowers. And the fruiting period is also later than that of Weigela 'Variegata', usually maturing around November.
From the perspective of growth habits, both Weigela 'Variegata' and Weigela 'Red Prince' like a warm climate. Weigela 'Variegata' can climb on trees and walls, while Weigela 'Red Prince' doesn't climb and has a higher demand for sunlight, and is suitable for planting in sunny places.