Magnificent Deutzia (deutzia x magnifica)

• Tall, upright-to-arching deciduous shrub (typically 2.5–4 m high × 1.5–2.5 m wide) with bright green foliage.
• Dense panicles of showy double pure-white flowers in May–June that create a spectacular late-spring display and attract pollinators.
• Fully hardy, low-maintenance, and tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions; excellent for borders, informal hedges, cottage or urban gardens.

Planting advice

• When: Dormant season – ideally late autumn to early spring (November–March), when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
• Position: Full sun or partial shade; a reasonably sheltered spot protects flower buds from late frosts and cold winds. Best flowering in sun.
• Soil: Any fertile, moist but well-drained soil (acid, neutral or alkaline; chalk, clay, loam or sand). Improve poor soil with organic matter (compost or well-rotted manure).
• How to plant:
  • Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread comfortably and deep enough so the plant sits at the same depth as the previous soil mark on the stem (collar level with soil surface).
  • Optionally mix compost into the backfill.
  • Spread roots out, backfill, firm gently with your heel to eliminate air pockets, and water thoroughly.
  • Mulch around the base (keeping clear of the stem) to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Aftercare: Keep well-watered in the first growing season until established. Once settled it is relatively drought-tolerant and needs little feeding. Prune after flowering to remove spent stems and encourage new growth.

Space plants according to final size (allow room for the mature spread).

Photo credit: Alan Pascoe, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)