I'm sure there is more than one variety of variegated weigelia, but if your's is like mine (pink flowers) it is only marginally hardy here in northeast Iowa. I've had it for about 8 years...maybe more...and it get's killed to the grounds about every 2 to 3 years. I'm only seeing a little growth on mine, yet...looks like this is a die back year. They do grow fast, though, and will make a nice, dense 3' shrub by fall. Try breaking a few twigs...if they snap, the wood is dead. Cut them to the ground. If the wood is green and not brittle, it is alive. If you see no sign of life by mid May, then it is probably dead.

You're kidding me. Crap. :(

So, what you're saying....even if the wood is dead, the plant itself could still be alive and may send up new shoots? Or is it a lost cause...if the wood is dead, dig it up and get something else?

Also you said it will make a nice, dense 3' shrub by fall....is that even on a 'die back year'??

We're on a main road and all these dead sticks along the yard look awful. TOTALLY not what I envisioned. :(

I'm in Manchester, by the way...pretty far north.

You're not far from me...I'm between Independence and Quasqueton!!

Yes, even if the woody top growth is dead, the roots may still be alive. If so, they will send up new growth from the roots. And yes, even when mine dies to the ground, it will be a nice looking plant by fall. Since your's are new, they may not regrow as vigorously, but once they get established, they will.

Did you buy them locally?

If you were going for a hedge type look, maybe something a little hardier would be better??

jspece is right... even down here in southern Iowa the variegateds die back some winters... I got rid of mine, as there are so many nice HARDY weigelas, why bother.The catalogues, of course, never tell you this.
Don

Yep....another here with the "doe nack" shrub....I should give up and dig it out....but hey...it's sort of an every 3 year ritual....cut back the wigelia....
Linda C

tjae, I would agree with the suggestion to try another, hardier variety of weigela. The variegated dies back and sometimes dies because it isn't that hardy; how it behaves depends on how low the minimum temp is in a given winter. I've replaced mine twice but keep getting another as it is the perfect color combination for a specific spot. Short of that, I would get some other variety.

Rhoda