CULTIVAR CLASSIFICATION OF WEIGELA

The cultivars in the genus Weigela have up till now been classified within a few species or directly under the genus. The two main species are: W. florida and W. praecox. Less important are W. coraeensis, W. hortensis, W. floribunda and W. japonica. These species freely hybridize with each other. Because many cultivars show influence of two or more species, there is a lot of confusion about the correct classification, and this system is no longer satisfactory. Instead a new, more stable classification in eight cultivar-groups (Groups) is proposed here. The classification is mainly based on size of the plant, leaf colour and colour of the flower. The new classification is based on growers’ practice, while the old classification was based on genetic relationships. The definitions of the cultivar-groups are simple and clear; cultivars can be classified better and this system is easy to work with, even for non-specialists.