A large vase-shaped shrub with profuse showy flowers in early May. It looks a lot like a beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), both in its h...Read Moreabit and its flowers, but it blooms a few weeks earlier.
It can reach 15' tall and 12' wide, and it tends to get leggy. In a border that can be an opportunity for underplanting it, and some will deliberately limb it up. The older stems develop pale exfoliating bark which some enjoy for its winter interest and others find messy.
The Royal Horticultural Society has granted this species its coveted Award of Garden Merit. Performs well in the Arnold Arboretum, Boston Z6a.
Easy, adaptable, flowering best in full sun. No fall color. Tolerates high pH soils. No significant pests or diseases.
I live in zone 9 and was wondering if I could grow this shrub/tree in my area. I do have plants doing nicely which are not native to my ...Read Morearea. I had a 57 plant rose garden before Hurricane Charlie blew them all into the next county. I also have azaleas, camelias, crepe myrtles and other species I have brought with me from my home state of South Carolina. If I keep it in a pot outside, would that help? I can do partial shade, morning sun, all day sun whatever it needs except freezing temps in the winter. We do have them, but only for a few nights at a time. It just sounds so lovely, I would like one. Or I could pot it and keep it inside. I do have an all glass sun room which has solar shield to protect from any heat getting in and also it is hurricane glass, double pained and non breakable. Thanks for the info. Mimi
A large vase-shaped shrub with profuse showy flowers in early May. It looks a lot like a beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), both in its h...Read More
I live in zone 9 and was wondering if I could grow this shrub/tree in my area. I do have plants doing nicely which are not native to my ...Read More