Deutzia Raspberry Sundae

Deutzia hybrida 'Raspberry Sundae' is a new variety of deutzia with large pink-violet and white bicoloured flowers. This deciduous shrub with spring flowering has a rather compact growth, reaching about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in all directions at maturity. With its slightly slender rounded habit and graceful branches laden with trailing clusters of flowers, it will be magnificent in a large pot on a sunny terrace, or integrated into a shrub border.

Deutzia belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family (formerly Saxifragaceae), just like hydrangeas. Native to eastern Asia, this deciduous foliage shrub naturally grows in groves and wooded areas of the Himalayas. The hybrid Deutzia 'Raspberry Sundae' is a recent English creation. It is distinguished by a fairly compact habit and a superb white and pink-violet flowering. It forms a well-branched and rounded bush, reaching about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in all directions at maturity. Its growth is rather fast. The remarkably abundant flowering takes place from April to June, almost making the foliage disappear. Its beautiful star-shaped flowers have 5 white petals delicately tinged with purple-pink tips. They are larger than average, grouped in dense panicles along the branches. The bunch of numerous yellow stamens makes the corolla's heart sparkle. Slightly fragrant, the flowers attract pollinating insects and stand out beautifully against its small ovate leaves, which are very dark green and strongly veined, turning bronze and purple-violet at the end of the season.

Somewhat out-dated survivors from older gardens, deutzias, like lilacs and old roses, are among those almost indestructible shrubs that require little effort but in return bring a lot of satisfaction to the gardener. In the garden, the 'Raspberry Sundae' deutzia is a beautiful landscape plant. It can be used within a shrub border or on a sunny slope. Its limited growth allows it to fit into small gardens, but also to adorn the terrace or balcony when planted in a large pot. Deutzia will produce its peak flowering in a limestone, humus-rich, and moist soil. The flowered branches hold up well in a vase, making original bouquets when combined with roses and wildflowers.