Deutzia scabra
Deutzia
Common names: Starry shrub, Rough deutzia
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Jun–Jul
- Flowering
- Jun
Photo: Qwert1234 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Deutzia, botanically Deutzia scabra, is a summer‑green ornamental shrub in the hydrangea family. In June, around mid‑June (week 24), numerous white to pale pink flower spikes open, covering the entire shrub and attracting bees and bumblebees. It grows upright and dense, reaching heights of 150 to 250 cm, and is well suited as a flowering hedge or solitary plant at the garden edge. It is a long‑lived bloomer: flowers appear on two‑year‑old wood, so this should be kept in mind when pruning.
Care instructions
Plant in a sunny to partially shaded spot with well‑drained, humus‑rich soil. Prune immediately after flowering, i.e., late June to early July, removing only the oldest, faded shoots close to the ground; pruning in winter or spring will remove next year’s flowers because the plant blooms on previous year’s wood. In the first one to two years, it appreciates regular watering during dry spells; thereafter it is hardy and low‑maintenance. A mulch layer of leaf or bark compost keeps the root zone moist and suppresses weeds. The Deutzia is winter‑hardy and generally does not require winter protection in most DACH regions.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, loamy
The deutzia likes loose, humus-rich garden soil with good drainage, because it tolerates waterlogging poorly. A spot with a little nutrient reserve is worthwhile for strong flowering. It is best to loosen heavy, compacted soils with compost before planting.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
In early spring the deutzia welcomes a dose of mature compost, which you work shallowly into the soil. A second, light dose of compost after flowering in May supports the new growth for the coming year. This undemanding shrub does not normally need more than that.
Pruning
Prune the deutzia straight after flowering, in June to July, because it flowers on two-year-old wood and would lose its buds with a spring pruning. Remove spent shoots just above a strong side shoot, and every few years take the oldest branches out close to the ground. That keeps the shrub open and ensures reliable new growth.
Overwintering
The deutzia is hardy in our latitudes and needs no special winter protection. With young plants or very exposed sites, a mulch layer of leaves over the root zone helps against frost drought. Container plants are best kept frost-free, or protect the pot with horticultural fleece and hessian.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- Layering
The most reliable way to propagate the deutzia is from semi-ripe cuttings, which you take in summer after flowering. Insert the shoot pieces in well-drained seed compost and keep them evenly moist until roots form. Alternatively, a low shoot can be nicked in spring and covered with soil until it has developed roots of its own as a layer. After one to two years you can separate the rooted layer from the mother plant.
For your garden
Grow Deutzia yourself
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