Deutzia

This group consists of about seventy deciduous shrubs that are natives of the Himalayas and South and East Asia. These flowering shrubs reach a height ranging from 4 to 61/2 feet, depending on the variety. D. chunii is a medium-sized shrub that flowers in mid-summer. The blossoms are 1/2-inch across with pink or white petals curved back to reveal the yellow anthers. They are produced in panicles, up to 4 inches long, along the branches. D. setchuenensis var. corymbiflora is a beautiful shrub that slowly grows up to 61/2 feet high. The deep green, elliptic-shaped leaves taper to a point and from mid- to late summer, loose clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers are produced. This variety should be sheltered from harsh wind.

Pot Cultivation

These lovely shrubs can be grown in good, fertile, loamy soil that is fairly moist, in a sunny location. It is beneficial to cover the soil around the plant with well-rotted manure or apply a complete fertilizer once in a while. Pruning consists of thinning out the shoots that have finished flowering and cutting them back within a short distance of the old wood. Flowering will be prolonged if there is a little shade during the hottest part of the day.

Propagation

Cuttings may be made of soft shoots, 3 or 4 inches long in May or June, or of firmer wood in July. These are inserted in a bed of sand or sandy peat in a propagating case in a frame or greenhouse. The new plants should be set in good soil in a nursery border, the ends of the shoots being pinched to encourage bushiness. When the plants are two years old, they should be large enough to plant in their permanent position.