i have a big red cardinal bush, but its never bloomed, would anyone know why, i wanted it so bad it has a beautiful color but no blooms ever, i dont know what to do, thank you margie
Cardinal Bush is a form of weigelia. Weigelias are pretty reliable, but as you said "I have a big red cardinal bush". My guess is that it needs a hard pruning if it's big. Are any of the stems 1" to 1 1/2"? If so, they need to be cut out. Weigelias are normally pruned just after blooming, but since yours isn't blooming, you can prune any time in spring. Weigelias are beautiful, and a great addition to any garden. I hope you get a flush of blossoms next year.
oh i forgot to tell you i have pruned it back the last 2 years because it got large, i thought that would do but it didnt, thank you margie
Beat me to it Licenter!! I was about to post exactly the same link. I hope it helps you to get your Cardinal bush to flower for you in the near future Margie.
It sounds like it is lacking something it needs. I am wondering when you trimmed it back, did you cut right above a little growth area? I can't think of the word right now to explain it better. Like with a butterfly bush you need to leave at least 3 of those little growths on the stem and cut right above one. At least in Wisconsin that is how I do it.
I found this information on nodes: A plant's stem consists of nodes and internodes. A plant node is the area from which leaves grow. Nodes are also the location of buds that can grow into branches and aerial roots. The space between nodes on a stem is the internode. Locating the nodes of a plant is important when you are doing regular maintenance such as pruning, and also when you propagate plants from stem cuttings or grafts.