Weigela Ebony & Ivory
Overview
The Weigela Ebony & Ivory is a striking deciduous shrub that creates dramatic contrast in the garden with its deep burgundy-black foliage and pristine white flowers. This eye-catching variety offers a sophisticated colour palette that works beautifully as a focal point or accent plant. Perfect for gardeners seeking bold visual impact, this compact shrub combines exceptional ornamental value with reliable, low-maintenance performance.
Key Features
Dramatic Foliage: The standout characteristic is the deep burgundy to near-black foliage that provides a stunning backdrop throughout the growing season. The dark leaves create exceptional contrast against lighter-coloured plants and make neighbouring flowers appear more vibrant.
Pure White Blooms: In late spring to early summer, masses of pristine white tubular flowers cover the dark foliage, creating a spectacular monochrome display. The contrast between the dark leaves and white flowers is truly remarkable.
Compact Growth: Reaches approximately 0.5 -1.0 metres in height and spread, making it ideal for smaller gardens whilst still providing substantial presence and impact.
Growing Conditions
Position: Performs best in full sun to partial shade. Full sun intensifies the dark foliage colour, whilst some afternoon shade in hot climates prevents stress and maintains flower quality.
Soil Requirements: Adaptable to most well-draining soil types with a pH range from slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates clay soils provided drainage is adequate, and appreciates consistent moisture without waterlogging.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures down to -20°C once established. The dark foliage may provide slightly better cold tolerance than green-leafed varieties.
Planting and Care
When to Plant: Best planted in autumn or early spring when soil conditions are favourable and temperatures are moderate.
Spacing: Allow 1.5-2 metres between plants to accommodate mature spread and ensure proper air circulation around the foliage.
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a robust root system. Once established, it shows good drought tolerance but benefits from supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells.
Feeding: Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring. A mulch of well-rotted compost helps retain soil moisture and provides gentle, slow-release nutrition throughout the growing season.
Pruning: Prune immediately after flowering (typically mid to late summer) to maintain shape and promote next year's bloom production. Remove up to one-third of the oldest stems annually to encourage fresh growth and maintain plant vigour.
Garden Uses
Accent Planting: The dark foliage makes an exceptional accent plant, providing dramatic contrast when planted amongst green-leafed shrubs or perennials with light-coloured flowers.
Mixed Borders: Works magnificently in mixed borders, particularly when paired with plants featuring silver, gold, or bright green foliage. The white flowers complement virtually any colour scheme.
Container Growing: Excellent for large containers where its compact size and striking appearance can be appreciated up close. Ensure containers are at least 50cm wide with good drainage.
Contemporary Gardens: Perfect for modern garden designs where bold contrasts and architectural plant forms are desired. The monochrome colour scheme suits minimalist and contemporary landscaping styles.
Companion Plants
Pairs beautifully with silver-leafed plants such as artemisia or lavender, golden-leafed shrubs like golden privet or spiraea, and bright green hostas or ferns. White-flowered perennials such as astilbe, Japanese anemone, or white roses create harmonious combinations. For dramatic contrast, plant alongside bright yellow or orange flowers.
Common Issues and Solutions
Aphids: Dark-leafed varieties may be more susceptible to aphid damage, which shows more readily on the foliage. Monitor regularly and treat with insecticidal soap if necessary.
Sun Scorch: In extremely hot conditions, some leaf edges may scorch. Provide afternoon shade in very hot climates or ensure consistent soil moisture.
Powdery Mildew: Maintain good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues, which can be more noticeable on dark foliage.
Seasonal Interest
Spring: New foliage emerges with rich burgundy tones, followed by the spectacular white flower display in late spring.
Summer: Maintains deep, dark foliage colour throughout the summer months, providing consistent dramatic impact.
Autumn: Foliage may develop subtle colour variations before dropping, and the bare stems reveal attractive winter architecture.
Winter: The branching structure provides subtle winter interest, particularly when viewed against snow or evergreen backgrounds.
Why Choose Weigela Ebony & Ivory?
This variety offers unparalleled drama and sophistication for gardens of any size. The striking contrast between dark foliage and white flowers creates a bold statement that's both elegant and eye-catching. Its compact size makes it suitable for modern smaller gardens, whilst its low-maintenance nature appeals to busy gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal effort. The unique colouration makes it an excellent choice for creating focal points and adding contemporary style to traditional garden settings.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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