The Deutzia belongs to the hydrangea family and is native to the temperate zones of Asia (especially Japan and China) and Central America. In our latitudes, the Deutzia is also known as the may flower bush or star bush. There are around sixty different species, most of which are deciduous shrubs of medium height.
Table of Contents
growth
The Deutzias are increasingly being planted as decorative wood in the gardens at home and in many places serve as a privacy screen to the neighboring property. The wonderfully flowering shrubs grow bushy, upright and loosely upwards, depending on the subspecies there is sometimes an overhanging and arched growth. The maximum height of growth can be up to 3-4 meters and is usually slow. The flowering time is in late spring and in the summer months. Due to its easy-care and winter-hardy properties and its representative characteristics, the Deutzia has become a very popular ornamental shrub and is widely used throughout the garden.
Location, plant substrate, plants
The Deutzia is particularly suitable as a solitary, as a small flower hedge, for manageable front gardens and in mixed herbaceous beds. It also fits well in a rock garden or mixed woody plantation. The Deutzia looks particularly distinctive in combination with other flowering shrubs such as the sparaceous shrub, the weigela and the pipe shrub. The shrub is not overly demanding in terms of site conditions and generally very adaptable in terms of soil quality. The Deutzia especially loves full sun locations and can develop most of the flowers here. In the dark shade or partial shade, on the other hand, the plant does not thrive sufficiently, for this reason it should not be in the root area or under the canopy of large trees.
The Deutzia can only be used to a limited extent as a container plant; the correct container size determines the healthy development of the shrub.
- Needs fresh and humus-rich plant substrate
- Light sandy soils are preferred
- A moderately nutrient-rich, always moist and water-permeable soil is ideal
- Normal and permeable soil is suitable as a plant substrate
- Loosen very heavy and extremely compacted soils well
- Enrich loamy soil with compost or sand and mix well
- Work in drainage in the form of gravel or other material
- Protected location in a full sun to light, partially shaded location
- Shady places are tolerated, but the flowering is then much less
- The more sunlight falls, the more luxuriant the flowers are
- Dry soils and very cold and draughty locations are not tolerated at all
- When planting in a tub, make sure it is of sufficient size
- A shrub is also well suited for a trough planting
Watering and fertilizing
The Deutzia is in itself very easy to care for if certain criteria are taken into account. The plant does not tolerate prolonged drought and must be watered regularly. In the case of poor soils, a complete fertilizer must also be added.
- A high water requirement, regular and extensive watering is therefore essential
- An additional layer of mulch keeps the moisture in the ground longer
- Water more intensely during dry and hot periods
- Avoid complete drying out of the soil
- Fertilize about once a month, depending on the quality of the soil
- If the soil quality is good, it is enough to apply fertilizer in spring
Cutting and wintering
Since the Deutzia grows very slowly, it does not have to be pruned regularly. In the case of the weak shrubs, depending on the space available and the stage of development, sometimes no pruning is necessary, which is definitely an advantage for a hedge plant and saves the garden owner a lot of work. From time to time, however, a rejuvenating cut after winter is advisable. This is how young and blooming wood is produced and promoted. A slight pruning is recommended even if the bloom is losing its strength. This cut at the end of the flowering period is also known as a pruning cut.
- Cutting back rarely necessary
- Prune after flowering
- Completely remove old and dead shoots from the bush
- Shorten the rest of the plant by about 1/3 the size
- Remove old branches as close as possible to the root neck after winter
The Deutzia is a perennial plant that copes well with the local weather conditions and is relatively frost-hardy. At the end of the autumn months it completely loses its leaves and in this way prepares for the winter time. That is why the ornamental shrub is ideally suited for the home garden culture and can overwinter at its pitch. In order to prevent possible frost damage, however, it cannot hurt to protect the plants from extremely low freezing temperatures and persistent snowfalls. In extreme cases, a high snow cover can cause the branches to break off and severely damage the shrub.
- Winter protection makes it easier for the plant to overwinter
- Put on winter protection after the leaves have fallen in late autumn
- Cover the bare branches with jute or fleece
- Place spruce branches or mats made of reed around the trunk and in the area of the roots
- Alternatively, a thick layer of mulch can be spread around the trunk
- The mulch layer keeps out severe frost and the soil does not freeze through
Growth, leaves and flowers
Deutzia reach heights of growth of up to several meters, depending on the variety. The ornamental shrubs usually grow very upright and straight upwards, some species form overhanging branches with many flowers. If the location is good and the living conditions are right, the flowering time takes place in late spring and in the first few weeks of summer. Due to its early flowering in spring, the shrub mainly attracts insects for pollination and the first butterflies. The dense foliage offers birds a safe shelter and the opportunity to build a nest. Due to the growth, the density of the leaves and the attractive flowers, Deutzias are suitable both as flowering trees in gardens, as well as for standing alone and as hedge planting. The Deutzia species available in specialist shops are extremely blooming,
- The shrub grows to a height of between 0.5 and 4 meters
- Slow growing process, no more than 30-45 cm per year
- Abundant flowering from May to June
- Leaves are broad, ovate and serrated on the leaf margin
- Leaf color is a deep dark green
- Flowers in clusters with a star-shaped orientation
- Flowers are also called bee pasture and are either white or pink
- Depending on the species, the flowers give off no scent or a pleasantly lovely scent
- Inconspicuous fruits
- Leaves turn either red or yellow in autumn
- The leaves are shed in late autumn
Propagation and implantation
The propagation of the Deutzia is quite easy. Cuttings can be taken from an existing shrub and placed in a suitable location. Flowers and shrubs in bold colors, which complement the white and pink flowers, are especially suitable as the ideal neighboring plants for the Deutzia. To propagate, the cuttings can first be placed in a pot, in this way they can also be grown over the winter.
- In summer, cut woody pieces approx. 20 cm long from strong branches
- Put in the ground and water regularly
- In the following spring, place the young plant in its final location
- Plant early young plants from specialist shops in spring or autumn
- Maintain a distance of half the expected height from other plants
- Optimal plants as neighbors in the flowerbed: Levkoje, lupine, peony, Turkish poppy
- Harmonizes in the hedge planting with farm jasmine and weigelia
Great variety
Due to the large variety of varieties, every gardener can choose the Deutzia species depending on his personal wishes and ideas and according to the requirements of his garden. A distinction is made between low, medium-high and high shrubs. Before planting, the development cycle of the respective Deutzia must be observed so that it does not get in the way and is perceived as annoying later. The specialist trade has a wide range of suitable seeds of the various varieties and their hybrids to choose from.
Deutzia gracilis
- Also called mayflower bush or dainty deutzia
- Low bush
- Little stature
- White flowers with a diameter of 2 cm
- Flower clusters are formed in May
Deutzia hybrida Mont Rose
- Also called the rose deutzia
- Medium-high and weak growth
- Pink-red flowers with a diameter of 1.5 cm
- Flowers stand in panicles and bloom in early summer, around the beginning of June
Deutzia magnifica
- Also called the tall star shrub
- Tall and stiffly upright growing shrub
- Normalwüchsig
- White flowers with a diameter of 2 cm
- Curved panicles of flowers with a length of 10cm
- Blooms in May and June
Deutzia scabra
- Also called Raublättrige Deutzia
- Stiffly upright shrub
- Normalwüchsig
- Overhanging with age
- White or pink flowers with a diameter of 1.5 cm
- Flower panicles are no longer than 10 cm
Diseases and pests
The Deutzia is not only very floriferous, but also extremely robust and therefore not particularly susceptible to diseases. Pests also rarely bother the ornamental shrub and are of no importance for its development. Most diseases and pests are caused by care errors and severe neglect and can easily be avoided with good care. The shrub is also non-poisonous, so it can be safely planted in a garden that children can use to play. Even if the offspring put parts of the plant in their mouths and swallowed them, there are no harmful effects on health.
Conclusion
The Deutzia is a richly flowering ornamental shrub that is ideal as a hedge plant and as an ornament for the front yard. Thanks to the dense and lush green foliage, the shrubs are a perfect privacy screen from the neighboring property and also have a decorative aspect. Due to their slow growth rate, Deutzias don’t do a lot of work and are a great fit in an easy-care garden. The shrubs only need to be pruned infrequently and slightly. The flowering time starts in late spring and the beginning of summer, Deutzias bloom profusely in pink and white colors and are a delight for the senses.
