Deutzia elegantissima Rosealind

The Deutzia x elegantissima Rosealind  is one of the first to bloom in the garden, in a haze of small flowers ranging from faded magenta to pink-lilac-mauve. Its porcelain-like flowers, grouped in airy panicles, are so numerous for 4 weeks that they make this bush, despite its modest stature, spectacular in full bloom. This deutzia is essential in a flower garden, especially since it grows well in any good, not too dry garden soil. Whether in a flowering hedge, alone, in a country-style bed, or even in a large pot on the terrace, it is difficult not to succumb to the charm of this delicately beautiful bush!

The hybrid Deutzia 'Rosealind' is an Irish creation dating back to the 1950s. It is a selection of the Deutzia x elegantissima, a hybrid created by Lorraine nurseryman Victor Lemoine in 1901, by crossing the Deutzia purpurascens and the D. sieboldiana. Both species, belonging to the saxifrage family, are native to China. 'Rosealind' is a bushy shrub, taking on a more upright habit if left unpruned. It reaches a maximum height of 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) and a spread of 1m (3 ft 4 in), with a rather fast growth rate. The abundant flowering often starts in May and lasts for a good part of June, almost obscuring the foliage. Its star-shaped flowers, grouped in panicles, are remarkable: dark magenta pink in bud, they open into stars of a fairly intense mauve-pink-lilac, lighter in the centre. They are often fragrant and attract pollinating insects. The flexible branches, brown-purple in colour, bear deciduous foliage composed of long, medium green leaves with a matte finish, heavily veined. Deutzia will reach its peak flowering in a soil that is both limestone-rich, rich in humus, and not too dry.

Deutzia, an almost indestructible shrub, has been out of fashion in recent years, but it brings a lot of satisfaction to the gardener with little effort. Among other deutzia varieties, Deutzia Rosealind stands out in the garden and accompanies the first summer blooms. It can be used in a free hedge or mixed with other flowering shrubs like Kolkwitzia, Abelia, mock oranges, laburnums, or brooms. Its moderate growth allows it to be integrated into small gardens and even welcomed in a large pot on the terrace or balcony.