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DEUTZIA (deut’-si-ah) – A genus of deciduous shrubs, native in Asia and belonging to the Saxifrage Family. They are attractive in early summer with their wealth of flowers, mostly white but some tinged pinkish.

They do best in well-drained soil with plenty of humus. In the North some need a protected position, and even then are not entirely hardy in severe winters. Numerous hybrids and varieties have been developed.

Two fungus leaf spots may attack deutzias. Protect them by spraying with bordeaux mixture. Root knot may be caused by nematodes, which see. The sudden death of branches in midsummer may be due to injury suffered the previous winter.

Propagated by seed, cuttings of green and hard wood, and layers.

Principal Species

Deutzia gracilis is one of the best dwarf shrubs, of graceful habit and bearing large clusters of pure white flowers.

parviflora is of vigorous upright habit with dense flower-clusters, and one of the hardiest.

lemoinei, a hybrid between the two species named above, makes a broad rounded bush with large clusters of white flowers, and is also very hardy. It has several good forms, of which Boule de Neige is outstanding.

scabra is a tall shrub with reddish branches, rough leaves and erect clusters of white flowers often tinged pink. The form known as Pride of Rochester has large double white flowers tinged rose.

longifolia is a tall handsome shrub with large lance-shaped leaves and clusters of large flowers tinted light purple. Not entirely hardy.

vilmorinae is somewhat hardier and is likewise a tall graceful grower, with loose clusters of white flowers.

purpurascens is a rather tender species of spreading habit, with slender branches and large open flowers tinged purple outside. It has been used for hybridizing with good results. Crossed with Deutzia gracilis it gave several good white- and pink-flowered forms.

kalmiaeflora is considered the best of the Deutzia purpurascens hybrids, obtained by crossing with Deutzia parviflora. It is of graceful habit, with cup-shaped flowers colored carmine on the outside.