Vivid Red Flowers and Dark Foliage on a Dwarf Rebloomer

Electric Love Weigela (Weigela florida 'Electric Love') packs a big punch into a small package, pairing deep burgundy-green foliage with electric red trumpet flowers that bloom in late spring and rebloom through summer. The high-contrast color and tidy, mounded dwarf habit make it a standout at the front of borders and in containers, while the nectar-rich flowers keep hummingbirds coming. Deer-resistant and easy, it's a bold little shrub for sunny Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Eagan gardens.

Landscape Uses

Use Electric Love as a bold dwarf accent at the front of borders, in foundation beds, and in containers. The red-on-burgundy contrast pops against greens and golds, and the flowers draw hummingbirds all season.

Best Time to Plant

Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help roots establish.

How to Plant

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the stems. Full sun gives the best color and bloom.

Watering

First Year: Water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish the roots.
After Year One: Water during dry spells; it's moderately drought tolerant once established.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line provides efficient, even moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it rebloom?
Yes, after the late-spring flush it continues flowering through summer.

Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, the red tubular flowers are a hummingbird magnet.

Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 4 and reliable across most of the state.

Is it deer resistant?
Yes, weigela is generally avoided by deer.

You May Also Like

Pair Electric Love with green and gold shrubs and our other weigelas for a high-contrast, hummingbird-friendly border.

How Many Electric Love Weigela Do I Need?

For a low front-of-border edge, space these dwarfs about 1.5 feet apart (center to center):

As an accent, plant in groups of 3 spaced 18–24 inches apart — each mound stays a tidy 1.5–2 feet, so the trio reads as one bold red-on-burgundy splash. One per container is perfect for a patio pot.

Electric Love Weigela Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Deep burgundy-green foliage emerges, then the main event — electric red trumpet flowers smother the mound in late spring, right when hummingbirds return to the Twin Cities.
• Summer: Reblooms in waves through summer over dark foliage that keeps the contrast going between flushes; no deadheading required.
• Fall: Foliage holds its moody color late into the season; skip pruning now — shape lightly after the spring flush instead.
• Winter: A compact dormant frame that disappears under snow and shrugs off zone 4 cold — no protection needed.

At a Glance

✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant

Plant It With

• Crimson Kisses Weigela — a slightly larger red rebloomer to step the border up in height behind Electric Love.
• Midnight Wine Shine Weigela — a glossy burgundy mini that doubles down on the dark-foliage theme.
• Goldfinger Potentilla — golden-yellow blooms that give exactly the green-and-gold contrast this red-on-burgundy shrub craves.
• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — upright tan plumes for vertical contrast above the low weigela mounds.

Is Electric Love Weigela Right for Your Yard?

Give it full sun (it tolerates part shade but blooms and colors best with 6+ hours), average well-drained soil, and a front-row spot where its 1.5–2 foot frame won't get buried by bigger shrubs — it's ideal for tight foundation beds, border edges, containers, and deer country. It's not a fit if you need screening or mass height: this is a true dwarf, so for anything over 2 feet look to a full-size weigela instead.