Deutzia Yuki Cherry Blossom™ 'NCDX2'

Deutzia 'NCDX2' is a hybrid deciduous shrub that is sold under the trade name 'Yuki Cherry Blossom.'  The genus Deutzia is a member of the Hydrangeaceae or hydrangea family.  The shrub was developed by Thomas Green Ranney at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a cross between Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko Blush' and Deutzia x rosea 'Carminea.'  The genus name, Deutzia, honors a Dutch amateur botanist from the 1700s, Johan van der Deutz. 

The shrub is compact, rounded, bushy, multi-stemmed, and measures only 1 to 2 feet tall. In the late spring, panicles of soft pink star-shaped flowers appear. The shrub's dark green leaves turn a beautiful bronze purple in the fall.

'Yuki Cherry Blossom' prefers fertile, moist, and well-drained soils. It is tolerant of almost any soil type. It is drought tolerant once it is established. More flowers are produced in full sun, but it is tolerant of partial shade. In southern climates, the shrub would benefit from some afternoon shade. If any pruning is required, it is best done immediately after the plant finishes blooming. Keep in mind when pruning that blossoms will appear on old growth. The shrub can be propagated by stem cuttings during the summer.

The leaves are dark green during the spring and summer. The fall bronze purple color adds interest to the garden since most other Deutzias do not have insignificant fall foliage color. The flowers bloom from May to June and appear on short panicles. Each flower is a soft pink with margins of white on the outside and light violet tints on the inside of the bloom.

'Yuki Cherry Blossom' is low maintenance shrub and would be a wonderful addition for banks, slopes, border gardens, containers, or patio plantings, The shrub is attractive to hummingbirds and is deer resistant.

U.S. Plant Patent Applied for (PPAF).

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom: Late Spring     Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall

Quick ID Hints:

• compact, bushy, rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub
• ovate, dark green leaves up to 3 inches long in spring and summer
• bronze, purple foliage in the fall
• flowers occur in short panicles along the branches
• tiny, five-petaled, star-shaped blooms of soft pink with white margins on the outside and light violet interior

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Yuki Cherry Blossom is generally pests and disease-free; however, aphids and leaf spots may occur. The shrub needs protection from late spring frosts and cold winters otherwise it may suffer from tip dieback.