Deutzia Care
It’s hard to believe that deutzia didn’t catch on sooner. They’re extremely low-maintenance. Plant them in well-drained soils and provide consistent moisture until they’re established. Once established, they can handle drought well, with few, if any, negative side effects. Plant deutzia in full sun to maximize the flower buds and fall color (a few varieties turn deep burgundy red for a show of color in fall). While full sun is ideal for flower production, some varieties, like ‘Chardonnay Pearls,’ do better in part sun, as their blooms can burn in intense sun. Don’t overprune deutzias. These plants have a naturally beautiful arching habit that can be ruined with too pruning. If you absolutely need to prune them (for renewed vigor or to remove some old branches), the best way is to selectively prune only the oldest branches all the way back to the base. 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.
Innovations
There have been fantastic introductions to the deutzia market. One of the first was ‘Chardonnay Pearls,’ which brought interesting foliage into the mix and began the work of shrinking these plants to a more manageable size for the small garden. This has continued to be the trend, with other new varieties like ‘Nikko’ and ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom,’ both of which remain under 2 feet tall and wide. Pink blooms have also been brought into the mix, and we’re sure that more great things are on the horizon.
More Varieties of Deutzia
‘Chardonnay Pearls’ Deutzia
Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ bears clusters of white spring flowers and golden-yellow foliage that looks good through fall. It grows 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Zones 5-8
‘Codsall Pink’ Deutzia
Deutzia scabra ‘Codsall Pink’ is an especially showy variety reaching 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It features 6-inch long clusters of double pink flowers in late spring, along with fuzzy foliage. Zones 5-8
‘Magicien’ Deutzia
Deutzia ‘Magicien’ is spangled in spring with starry pink flowers with white backs. It grows 5 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-8
‘Pink-A-Boo’ Deutzia
Deutzia ‘Pink-A-Boo’ bears clusters of beautiful pink flowers on a mounding shrub reaching 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Zones 5-8
Slender Deutzia
Deutzia gracilis is a compact, upright shrub that grows to 3 feet tall and wide. It bears clusters of white flowers in spring. Zones 6-8
