Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Best flowering in full sun. Wide range of soil tolerance. Prefers moist, humusy soils. Stems are somewhat short-lived, and annual pruning of dead branches is usually necessary. Prune in spring immediately after flowering. Propagate by cuttings.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Deutzia × rosea is a bushy, rounded, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with arching branches. It typically matures to 2-3’ tall and as wide. It results from a cross between D. gracillis and D. purpurascens. Tiny, 5-petaled, pale pink flowers (to 5/8” across) bloom in late spring (May-June) in short panicles along the branches. Ovate to lanceolate, finely toothed leaves (to 3" long) are dark green throughout summer with no appreciable fall color. This hybrid differs from D. gracillis in having more pinkish flowers that are held in looser panicles.
Genus name honors Johan van der Deutz (1743-1788), amateur botanist from Amsterdam.
The hybrid name rosea means "rose-colored", in reference to the color of the flowers.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Aphids and leaf spots may appear.
Uses
Group in shrub borders, foundations or open woodland areas. Informal hedge.