General Description

A deciduous, medium-sized upright shrub, with brown bark and green leaves that have a long winter dormancy. White flowers come in clusters in the spring with brown-coloured fruit.

Landscape

The fuzzy Deutzia is used as an ornamental plant because of its clusters of white flowers. It is commonly found in landscaped gardens, mass groups, beds, and borders, or open woodland area planting. Its low maintenance is great for planting on banks, slopes, and drought-tolerant areas.

Cultivation

Grown in average well-drained soil, acid, alkaline, or neutral soils, although it prefers humusty soils. It is pH adaptable, and thrives in full sun to part shade. The Deutzia responds great to renewal pruning, very effective after spring and immediately after flowering. It should be planted in the spring or summer after the last expected frost, and requires little after-care.

Shape

Upright, medium, multi-branched, deciduous shrub that grows 1.95 to 32.5 m tall, with a spread of 1.3 to 2.6 m. The arching branches form a rounded crown.

Growth

Medium

ID Characteristic

The rounded crown shrub has exfoliation brown bark, and arching branches that give a loose open appearance. The green leaves are opposite, toothed, ovate to oblong-lanceolate. Tiny, fragrant, star-shaped white flowers come in clusters in July, and are usually tinged pink on the outside.

Pests

Has no serious insect or disease problem. Leaf spots and aphids may appear in poor conditions.

Habitat

The fuzzy Deutzia tolerates most conditions, so its habitat varies. It is commonly found in man-made, disturbed habitats or forest edges, with medium moisture soils.

Bark/Stem Description

The bark is reddish brown to orange-brown, exfoliating (peeling) bark in large sheets.

Flower/Leaf Bud Description

The brown pointed 5 cm long buds turn into white bell-shaped buds before blossoming into beautiful star-shaped flowers. The white, showy flowers mature into dry, brown capsules that persist through the winter.

Leaf Description

Deutzia scabra leaves are simple, with dull olive green colours that are attractive and lush. In the autumn, the leaves turn yellow with highlights of orange to red. They have an ovate to oblong-lanceolate shape, 2.5 - 10 cm length, and up to 5 cm width. They are arranged in opposites, and have a rough sandpaper texture, with a rough surface.

Flower Description

Every spring, the shrub becomes smothered with clusters of tiny star-shaped white flowers with 5 petals, that appear in early June. They are 1.5 cm long and wide, tinged pink on the outside. They also have a honey-like fragrance which attracts bees, butterflies, and birds.

Fruit Description

Deutzia scabra has a cup-like brown fruit, capsules borne in panicles. They ripen in early autumn and persist through winter.

Colour Description

It has an attractive and lush olive green foliage, reddish brown bark and fruit colour, with white tinged pink flowers. No autumn colour.

Texture Description

The plant's leaves have a sandpaper feeling, with exfoliating bark. Overall, it has a coarse texture.

Notable Specimens

School of Horticulture, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Propagation

Propagation is best by soft wood cuttings, because they are easy to root. Take a 5-inch long softwood cutting, remove the lower leaves, insert into pot of hummus soil with hormone, and in six weeks, the Deutzia can be transplanted into its permanent location after the last expected frosts, during the late spring or early summer.

Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)

The Deutzia scabra is a very common shrub in Japan.The flowers are called “U no Hana”, which is known by most Japanese people through a song “The summer has come”. So the Deutzia scabra flower is supposed to declare the beginning summer.

Phillips, R., & Martyn, R. (1989). Shrubs. New York: Random House. Riteau, J. (2011). Trees, Shrubs, and Hedges for your Home. New Jersy: Creative Homeowner. Taylor, N. (1987). Taylor's Guide to Shrubs. New York: Houghton Mifflin.