May Shrub of the Month-Deutzia
Deutzia is not a well-known shrub among most homeowners or average gardeners. I had never heard of it before until I started taking plant ID classes. It didn’t seem like anything special, until I saw it in bloom. Wowzers. Like a shrub form of baby’s breath in a floral arrangement, the tiny white flowers of Deutzia gracilis work well in any landscape situation or garden combo.
The ‘Nikko’ cultivar has a low, rounded habit that works beautifully in shrub borders or perennial beds. Growing to only 2′, it can spread up to 5′. Other cultivars are available, including CHARDONNAY PEARLS, noted for its chartreuse-colored foliage and open branching in a compact size. (See pic below) Cultivars of Deutzia scabra, like ‘Codsall Pink,’ can get up to 8′, so be sure to research and read those plant tags.
Most Deutzias will perform well in sun to part-sun situations. Afternoon shade is appreciated, as is rich soil with plenty of organic matter. Protection from harsh winter winds is also helpful.
What I love about this plant;
-Fragrant flowers in spring are white or pink.
-Low, mounded habit with selected cultivars.
-White blooming cultivars are great for white or moon gardens.
-White flowering, mounded cultivars like ‘Nikko’ are great companion plants with other shrubs or perennials!
-Low maintenance.
What’s not so great;
-Like other early spring flowering shrubs, pruning or trimming at the wrong time can forfeit next spring’s flowers. Prune Deutzia immediately after flowering if necessary. Compact cultivars like ‘Nikko’ will keep their low, mounded habit without pruning. All shrubs can benefit from the removal of dead stems and, like in the case of Deutzia, the occasional removal of older stems.
-Harsh winters can freeze flower buds, forfeiting flowers. Some die-back may occur, so prune out any dead stems in spring. Protection from winter winds can help.
-Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2025, All rights reserved.
