Youre a mind reader, Rouge. i was just thinking about asking re this shrub!

Great minds think alike @indianagardengirl ;)

I tried a couple of cultivars some years ago and had to get rid of them because they were extremely vulnerable to late frosts/freezes. Now the cycle of high temps/freezes has worsened considerably.

Thanks for that @laceyvail 6A, WV (this is the kind of real life experience that is so valuable). And that is what I was afraid of given that the hardiness zone for these deutzia is what I sometimes consider as a bit 'iffy' ie 5.

I wouldn't have one, but happened to see a cheap liner size for sale at the NCSU plants for sale cart a couple visits ago. Was it spring 2024 or late winter 2023? I can't remember now...how time flies. I liked the fanciful french name!

https://jcra.ncsu.edu/horticulture/our-plants/results-by-name-serial-number.php?serial=107942

Anyhow, so far, so good...pretty standard deciduous shrub behavior. Seems reasonably drought tolerant too, as I don't recall watering it these past two summers. (NB, my soils are deep and loamy though. In lesser ones, YMMV)

Interesting…..I am in zone 5b and they have always flowered reliably and prolifically. I have Nikko, gracilis, Chardonnay Pearls, Yuki something or other, and then one that is about 8’ tall now that I am absolutely in love with but cannot remember the name. I am so surprised to hear others say they aren’t reliable.

Thanks for this @Thyme2dig NH Zone 5.

I for sure wouldnt be able to accommodate an 8 foot shrub but it must be glorious when it is in full bloom!

Well, Thyme, yours might leaf out and bloom later and your area might not have the unexpected late frosts/freezes. But if they start up early because the weather has tricked them and then it plunges, well, Deutzias are not happy with it.

They are very reliable here also. I don't remember the cultivar names. One is a dwarf I got from Bluestone several years ago, that I liked so much I got another deutzia.

Any experience as to its desirability to rabbits/deer?

I had "Nikko" deutzia at a prior house, they were lovely when they bloomed. Nice-looking afterwards, too, and yes compact. Filled a certain height and shape need I had. I don't recall any animal damage but that was so long ago.

rouge, just saw your second question. I have a deer path through my yard, and while I always see footprints, especially in the muddy spring, I have (knock on wood) only had serious damage two years out of almost 30.

The location of the deutzia is somewhat out of the way of the deer path, but it is right next to hostas (one of which you can see in my photo - a huge lovely Spartacus) and also right next to daylilies. While the deer have in the past nibbled on the hostas and nipped the buds off the daylilies (sigh....) I don't recall any nibbling on the deutzia. Not a ringing endorsement for deer resistance lol, but just adding in my experience with it. Of course, it can be exactly BECAUSE there were hostas and daylilies right next to it. Those are top of the menu for deer, I believe.

:)

Dee