Deutzia is a dense, deciduous, flowering shrub that grows to a height of 3 to 9 feet. It has papery green leaves with clusters of white star-shaped flowers that bloom in the spring. The shrub is a member of the Hydrangeaceae or hydrangea family. It is native to Japan. The species epithet is Latin for crenate, but the reference is obscure. Deutzia prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils. They tolerate most soil types and are usually drought-tolerant once established. They flower best in full sun but grow in partial shade. If pruning is required, it is best done immediately after blooming. Keep in mind when pruning that blossoms will appear on old growth. The shrub may be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds. This plant is seldom damaged by deer. The stems of this shrub are reddish-brown. The leaves are simple, lanceolate, and slightly hairy. The fragrant white flowers bloom in abundance and are followed by tiny fruit capsules. Deutzia is a low-maintenance shrub and would be a lovely addition as a foundation planting, border, or hedgerow. Use it in a cottage or Asian garden. Quick ID Hints: r eddish-brown stems simple, lance to ovate shaped, green leaves measuring 2 to 3 inches long and up to 1-inch wide clusters of five-petalled, star-shaped, white flowers tiny fruit capsule follows the blooms Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Deutzia is generally pest and disease-free, but aphids and leaf spots may occur. More information on Deutzia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 4 in. - 9 ft. 9 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are opposite, simple, green, ovate to lanceolate, and sparsely hairy on both sides. They measure 2 to 3 inches long and 0.5 to 1-inch wide. The base of the leaf is rounded, the tip is pointed, and the margins are serrate.
Fall color
Insignificant
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are white and are arranged in panicles or clusters that measure 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2.5 inches wide. They have dense yellow-brown hairs. They bloom from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a capsule that appears from August to October. Each capsule is a half-circle in shape and sparsely hairy.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems are reddish-brown.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Distribution
Native: Japan; Introduced: Austria, China South-Central, China Southeast, Czechoslovakia, East Himalayas, Korea, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States--AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, KY, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, TN, UT, VT, VA, and WV