Slender Deutzia

deutziacompact shrubwhite flowersfront gardengraceful

Slender deutzia is a graceful, compact shrub that becomes covered in clusters of pure white, star-shaped flowers in May and June. The slender, arching branches bow under the weight of blooms, creating an elegant cascading effect. This small shrub fits any garden and is particularly suited to front gardens.

See in your garden

Characteristics

Sun: Full sun, Partial shade
Water: Medium
Height: 60–100 cm
Spread: 60–100 cm
Hardiness zone: 5–8
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Evergreen: No
Flower colors: white
Wildlife value: bees, butterflies

Bloom period

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Care guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Deutzia is undemanding but thrives best in a sheltered position. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first year. An annual compost dressing in spring is sufficient.

Pruning tips

Prune immediately after flowering by shortening flowered stems by a third. Remove a few of the oldest branches at the base each year to keep the shrub open and youthful. Avoid late pruning — flower buds form on last year's wood.

Good companions

Neatly clipped boxwood sphere in a formal garden

Shrubs

Buxus sempervirens

Boxwood

Boxwood is an evergreen shrub with small, glossy dark green leaves that is ideal for topiary and hedging. The plant grows slowly and can live for hundreds of years. Small green-yellow flowers appear in April and May, attracting early bees.

Partial shadeMedium100–500 cm

Pink weigela flowers on arching branches in full bloom

Shrubs

Weigela florida

Weigela

Weigela is a versatile ornamental shrub that becomes smothered in trumpet-shaped flowers in pink to deep red during May and June. The shrub has a broad, arching growth habit and makes an attractive backdrop in the border. Some cultivars feature striking dark red or variegated foliage that extends interest into autumn.

Full sunMedium150–250 cm

Pink flower clusters of Japanese spirea in summer sunshine

Shrubs

Spiraea japonica

Japanese Spirea

Japanese spirea is a compact, free-flowering shrub with flat clusters of pink flowers from June to August. The shrub has a neat, rounded form and works perfectly in small gardens, low hedges, or as border edging. Some cultivars feature decorative yellow-green or bronze-tinted foliage.

Full sunMedium60–120 cm