Weigela Midnight Wine Shine
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking dramatic, deer-resistant seasonal color.
Discover the Weigela Midnight Wine Shine®, a stunning deciduous shrub celebrated for its exceptionally glossy, dark burgundy to nearly black foliage that provides interest from spring through fall. This improved variety boasts darker, glossier leaves than its predecessor and produces abundant pretty pink flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators. Its compact, low-mounding habit makes it a versatile choice for garden beds, borders, containers, or as a striking specimen. Cold-hardy and easy to grow, it thrives in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil, even tolerating clay conditions. Deer resistant.
$24.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
866
/ 2688
#866 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-37%
Below average
Genus
Weigela
/ Weigela
Who it's for
- Urban gardeners with limited patio or border space
- Designers prioritizing consistent color over seasonal blooms
- Busy homeowners seeking low-maintenance landscape solutions
Who should skip it
- Gardeners prioritizing a long-lasting floral display
- Shady yard owners wanting deep burgundy foliage
- Impatient planters looking for rapid landscape coverage
Performance breakdown
Foliage Impact
Glossy, near-black leaves provide dramatic, high-contrast color all season long.
Pollinator Appeal
Pink blooms act as a reliable magnet for local garden pollinators.
Growth Habit
Compact, low-mounding structure fits perfectly into small spaces or containers.
Environmental Resilience
Hardy in Zone 4 and impressively tolerant of heavy clay soils.
Maintenance Ease
Low-effort shrub that thrives with minimal intervention once established.
Deer Resistance
Reliably avoids browsing pressure in areas with high deer populations.
Key Specs
Genus
Weigela
Species
florida
Variety
'SMNWFMS'
PPAF
PP26922
Item Form
1-Quart
Zone
4 - 8
Height
17 in
Width
24 in
Features
- Extremely glossy, dark burgundy to almost black foliage
- Improved selection with darker, glossier leaves
- Free-flowering with attractive pink blooms
- Attracts pollinators
- Compact, low-mounding habit
- Excellent specimen or mass planting
- Replaces Berberis where banned
- Cold hardy to Zone 4
- Tolerates clay soil
- Deer resistant
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Weigela Midnight Wine Shine for its exceptional design and reliable quality. Its striking dark foliage and vibrant pink flowers provide year round visual interest, making it a highly valued addition to diverse garden landscapes. Gardeners appreciate its compact, mounding habit which requires minimal pruning, highlighting its ease of maintenance. Many reviews emphasize the plant's robust health and vigorous growth, even in challenging conditions, underscoring its superior quality and dependable performance. This Weigela truly delivers on its promise of beauty and resilience.
Know before you buy
Midnight Wine Shine is an improved selection that features significantly glossier, darker foliage that leans closer to black. It maintains the same compact, low-mounding habit as the original but offers a more polished appearance throughout the growing season.
Yes, this variety is quite adaptable and is known to tolerate clay soil conditions well. Ensure the planting site is well-drained to prevent water from pooling around the roots, which helps the plant establish successfully.
While no plant is completely deer-proof, Weigela Midnight Wine Shine is considered deer resistant. It is generally not a preferred food source for deer, making it a reliable choice for gardens in areas with high deer traffic.
For the deepest, most intense burgundy-black foliage, plant this shrub in a location that receives full sun. While it can tolerate partial shade, the leaves may appear more bronze or green if it does not receive enough direct light.
Absolutely. Its compact, low-mounding habit makes it an excellent candidate for containers. Just ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes and use a high-quality potting mix to keep the plant healthy.
Because of its naturally compact, low-mounding habit, heavy pruning is rarely necessary. If you wish to shape it, the best time to prune is immediately after it finishes flowering in the spring.
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