Grow weigela in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8, in a location with well-drained soil and full sun. Suited to zones 3 to 7, ninebark adapts to a variety of conditions. It performs best in full sun (in the north) and in soil with good drainage. Another fall-foliage standout and late-spring bloomer, this 4-by-4-foot shrub is suited to zones 5 to 9. Like ninebark, it tolerates an array of growing conditions, but, to be on the safe side, improve its soil’s drainage with soil amendments. And if you want to maximize fall color, give it full sun. F. x intermedia is suitable for zones 5 to 8 and matures at 4 to 6 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide. Grow it in full sun and a well-drained soil if you can, but it isn’t fussy. Wild birds eat the berries, adding to the reasons why this is among the most fun plants to grow in the yard. The reason the bush is so low-maintenance is that pruning is optional. And if you do choose to prune, the procedure is simple: Since it blooms on new wood, you prune it down to the ground in early spring, then you don’t prune it anymore.
