Not Honeysuckle Or Mandevilla: The Shrub Hummingbirds Love That Looks Good On Retaining Walls

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When it comes time to soften the look of a retaining wall, you don't have to stick to the same old climbing vines like honeysuckle or mandevilla. Instead, look for flowering shrubs that boast gracefully trailing branches, yet are diminutive enough that their root systems won't dislodge masonry. One option well worth considering is the weigela cultivar 'Spilled Wine' (Weigela florida 'Bokraspiwi'), prized for its hummingbird-attracting deep pink flowers and dramatic purple foliage.

Of course, 'Spilled Wine' isn't just known for being one of the perennials that hummingbirds love. Its spreading shape is also key. Weigela cultivars' rounded shapes and their habit of arching downward are ideal for trailing over a retaining wall. And, while common weigela can regularly reach up to 10 feet in height and width, smaller cultivars like 'Spilled Wine' are just the right size to drape over a retaining wall or screen a low foundation. Of course, they're also ideal as edging plants or as a trailing plant in a large container. 

It's not hard to see why creators named this weigela cultivar 'Spilled Wine'. It's wider than it is tall, reaching widths of up to 4 feet and heights of no more than 3 feet. This habit of happily spilling over your retaining wall or edgings is made all the more impactful by its purple leaves and magenta flowers. 'Spilled Wine' is perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8. It begins blooming in mid-spring, and those blooms last until the fall.

Small shrubs like 'Spilled Wine' weigela are ideal for planting atop retaining walls, because their non-invasive root systems won't disrupt drainage systems or masonry. Even so, be careful not to establish their planting holes at the very edge of the structure, where drainage systems are likely to have been installed. Because the branches of 'Spilled Wine' spread 3 or 4 feet wide above ground, you'll still be able to get that ornamental dangling effect without actually needing to wedge the plant right against the wall's edge.

The bushes can be established any time during the regular growing season. Find a sunny patch in which to place the weigela shrubs. Planting them in full sun helps bring out the most intense colors in both their flowers and foliage. While weigelas are tolerant of a range of soil types, the young shrubs will get off to the best start in well-drained soils. Give these arching spreaders about 3 to 4 feet between planting holes in order not to overcrowd them,

Water 'Spilled Wine' shrubs every few days during their first six weeks or so, then once a week during their first growing season. In the coming years, they'll likely only need supplemental watering during periods of low rainfall. The best time to prune your weigela plant is right after its flowering period is over. That's because weigelas flower on old wood – you don't want to cut away those branches before they have a chance to enchant hummingbirds and humans alike with their blooms!