This pretty shrub produces clouds of pink or white spring blooms.
With over 60 species in this genus, deutzia has a fair amount of diversity.
New cultivars feature beautiful blooms, fall color, and even deer resistance.
Janet Mesic-Mackie.
Deutzia’s claim to fame is its bountiful white blooms in early spring.
Although most often white-blooming, there are pink selections as well.
The blooms are gorgeous, and the flower buds are perfect little spheres.
Credit: Janet Mesic-Mackie
Where to Plant Deutzia
Plant deutzia shrubs infull sun for maximum floweringand well-draining soil.
Some deutzias can survive in part shade, but their bloom display is reduced.
Deutzias grow well in USDA zones 58.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
They are lovely in a woodland garden and can be used as border plants and low hedges.
The large ones make spectacular specimen shrubs standing alone.
These low-maintenanceplants are deer-resistantand are useful for erosion control.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Dig a hole wider than the nursery container and the same depth.
Loosen the soil at the bottom andamend it with compostto improve drainage.
Backfill the hole, firm the soil with your hands to eliminate air pockets, and water well.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Deutzia Care Tips
It’s hard to believe that deutzias didn’t catch on sooner.
They’re extremely low-maintenance.
Soil and Water
Plant themin well-drained soiland provide consistent moisture until they’re established.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Once established, natural rainfall might be sufficient for the plants.
They can handle drought with few adverse side effects.
Temperature and Humidity
Deutzia plants don’t like hot weather.
Most deutzias are deciduous.
In cold areas, they go dormant in winter and lose their leaves.
Fertilizer
After the plant is established, apply aslow-release granular fertilizerin spring each year.
A mulch of well-rotted organic matter, also applied each spring, contributes to the health of the soil.
Pruning
Don’t overprune deutzias; they bloom on the previous season’s growth.
These plants have a naturally beautiful arching habit that can be ruined with too much pruning.
This keeps the overall shape intact and encourages new growth from the base.
Do any pruning just after these plants bloom, as they set their flower buds in the fall.
Potting and Repotting Deutzia
Small varieties of deutzia can be planted outside in containers.
Choose a container with drainage holes and fill it with planting medium that has been amended with compost.
Repot only when the plant is crowded in its pot.
If this happens, the shrub can be treated with insecticidal soap orneem oil.
Although they enjoy moist soil, they are susceptible to root rot in soggy soil.
It is better for the soil to be a little dry than too wet.
Cut 6-inch long pieces from the stem tips.
Remove all leaves except for one or two pairs at the top.
Dip the other end of the cutting in rooting hormone and insert it into a sterile rooting medium.
Throughout the winter, keep the cuttings in a greenhouse orcold framewhere the temperature is about 40F.
They won’t be ready to go into the garden soil until fall.
Types of Deutzia
There have been fantastic introductions to the deutzia market.
Pink blooms have also been brought into the mix.
It is marketed specifically for its buds.
It grows 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
It features 6-inch-long clusters of double pink flowers in late spring and fuzzy foliage.
It grows 5 feet tall and wide.
It bears clusters of white flowers in spring.
The highly concentrated nectar is especially important for honey bees.
Alas, the masses of blossoms that cover most deutzias live for only a couple of weeks.
Because of this, some gardeners underplant them with perennials or bulbs to extend the season of interest.
