Kolkwitzia amabilis - Beauty Bush

As vigorous as it is elegant, <strong><a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/kolkwitzias.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kolkwitzia</a></strong> is an Asian bush that truly deserves its name of "beauty bush"! Its graceful silhouette and generous flowering are stunning both as a standalone plant and in a free-standing hedge or border, paired with the spring blooms of weigela, lilac, or mock orange. <strong>Its long, arching branches are covered with a cloud of flowers that are both dense and light</strong>, spreading over nearly three weeks <strong>between May and June</strong>. The flowering <strong>presents a very romantic picture</strong> with these garlands of small flowers showcasing their pale pink throat tinged with canary yellow, supported by a calyx and purple stems. The flower buds also stand out with their candy pink tones. Although the foliage emerges before the flowers, it is completely overshadowed by the abundance of flower crowns, positioned at the tips of secondary branches. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52762" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Kolkwitzia-amabilis-pink-cloud1.jpg" alt="kolkwitzia, beauty bush" width="1172" height="780" /> In addition to its ornamental qualities, <strong>Kolkwitzia amabilis is very hardy</strong> (down to -30°C) <strong>and melliferous, adapting well to all well-drained garden soils, including calcareous ones.</strong> The bush tolerates full sun but prefers light shade in the south. Once well established, its drought resistance is very satisfactory. Its only requirement is to be placed out of the prevailing winds that can damage its flowering. Given all these virtues, it is surprising to see that this bush is so little known in our gardens!