Midnight Sun Weigela
Midnight Sun Weigela
A Dwarf Weigela with Fiery Variegated Foliage
Midnight Sun Weigela (Weigela florida 'Midnight Sun') is grown for its dazzling foliage as much as its flowers, with leaves edged in bright gold and flushed with fiery red and orange on the new growth, deepening through the season. Rosy-pink trumpet flowers appear in late spring to feed hummingbirds. Its tidy dwarf habit makes it a colorful accent for the front of beds and containers, and it's deer-resistant and easy in sunny Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury gardens.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Weigela florida 'Midnight Sun' |
| Mature Size | 1.5–2 ft tall and wide (dwarf) |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 4–8 (hardy across most of Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun (best color); tolerates part shade |
| Bloom Time | Late spring |
| Flower Color | Rosy-pink over gold-and-red variegated foliage |
| Soil | Average, well-drained |
Landscape Uses
Use Midnight Sun as a colorful dwarf accent at the front of borders, in foundation beds, and in containers. Its multicolored foliage pops against green and dark-leaved companions, and the flowers draw hummingbirds.
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 brings out the brightest foliage color.
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
What makes Midnight Sun special?
Its gold-edged foliage flushed with red and orange gives season-long color beyond the spring flowers.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, the tubular pink flowers are a hummingbird favorite.
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 Midnight Sun with green and dark-leaved shrubs and our other weigelas for a colorful, hummingbird-friendly border.
How Many Midnight Sun Weigela Do I Need?
For a front-of-bed color ribbon, space plants about 18 inches apart (mature width is 1.5–2 feet):
| Run Length | Plants Needed |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 4 plants |
| 10 ft | 7 plants |
| 20 ft | 14 plants |
| 30 ft | 21 plants |
It also shines as a single in a container or a 2-foot bed pocket, or in staggered drifts of 3–5 where the fiery foliage can read as one glowing patch.
Midnight Sun Weigela Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: New leaves emerge flushed red and orange over gold edges — the foliage show starts before a single flower opens. Rosy-pink trumpets follow in late spring, right when hummingbirds return to the Twin Cities.
- Summer: Foliage colors deepen and shift through the season, so the shrub reads as a multicolored accent even with no blooms. Prune for shape right after flowering, not later.
- Fall: The gold-and-red variegation holds until frost, carrying front-of-bed color after most perennials fade.
- Winter: Drops its leaves to a small, fine-twigged mound. Hardy to zone 4 — occasional tip dieback in a brutal winter regrows quickly and can be trimmed off in spring.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant
Plant It With
- Wine And Roses Weigela — dark burgundy foliage behind Midnight Sun makes the gold-and-fire leaves glow.
- Midnight Wine Shine Weigela — a fellow under-2-foot dwarf in glossy burgundy for an easy front-of-bed color duo.
- My Monet Weigela — another compact variegated weigela; mixing the two keeps the painterly theme going.
- Green Velvet Boxwood — a calm, evergreen green backdrop that makes the variegation pop year-round.
Is Midnight Sun Weigela Right for Your Yard?
Give it a sunny, well-drained spot at the front of a bed and it delivers season-long foliage color, late-spring hummingbird flowers, and no deer browsing — all in a footprint under 2 feet. It's not a fit for deep shade, where the fiery variegation washes out to plain green, or for soggy, poorly drained ground.