Spring blooms are wonderful, of that there is no doubt. For many shrubs, though, after that things aren’t so exciting. Plain green leaves make a good backdrop, but continuing color would be even better, right? Well, with the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia that is exactly what you get – bright color all season, and the added beauty of wonderful fragrant clusters of pure white flowers in spring. The vibrant lemon-yellow foliage of this compact shrub is bold and brilliant, from the first buds of spring all the way into fall. It’s a color that fits in everywhere, with all other foliage and flower colors, and you will love the versatility of this plant. You can clip it into low hedges around beds and paths, or create flowing golden rivers through your beds. It’s even small enough to use in planters for brilliant accents. Take a sip of this delicious Chardonnay, and you will be back for the whole bottle, and for the beautiful necklace of spring pearls as well.

Growing the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia

Size and Appearance

The Chardonnay Pearls Deutzia is a unique deciduous shrub that grows 2 or 3 feet tall and wide, with a compact, bushy form. Many stems grow from the base, and the bark is smooth on young stems, flaking more on the light-gray older stems. The slender 2-inch leaves are spear-shaped, and taper to a long tip. They have slight serrations along the edge. New stems shoot quickly in spring, and the leaves are a wonderful brilliant greenish yellow, more citrus than gold. The color is uniform on both sides of the leaf, and the remarkable thing is how stable and reliable this color is, through hot and cold weather, and from spring all the way into fall. Before the leaves drop in fall they turn a light, clear yellow, and the stable coloring of this plant is invaluable in the garden.

Throughout the month of May, in most areas, the ‘pearls’ in this citrus-toned wine appear. Each new stem grows into a long cluster of about 24 blooms, which stay beautiful for 3 to 4 weeks. Each star-shaped bloom is about ¾ of an inch across, with five pure-white petals. Set against the leaves they look beautiful, and they release a lovely warm, sweet fragrance. The flowers drop neatly, and dead-heading is not needed.

Using the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia in Your Garden

Wherever you need a splash of brightness, that is where you can grow the Chardonnay Pearls Deutzia. Low growing, it is ideal for the front of borders, making a bold separation between lawns and beds or paved areas. Plant a single plant in a smaller bed, or plant clusters of 3, 5 or 7 plants, 18 inches to 24 inches apart. For edging beds you can space them as close as 12 inches apart, but 18 inches will give good results in an extra year or so. It is easy to make attractive clipped edging or low hedges too, for formal or informal settings. This bush is also excellent planted in boxes and pots, alone or mixed with other flowering shrubs. Place it in large pots beneath trees for a great look on a patio or terrace.

Hardiness

Cold hardy into zone 5, you can grow this easy plant almost everywhere. It does need some cold winter months to develop properly, so it is not suitable for zones 9 and 10.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun will give the best foliage color in the Chardonnay Pearls Deutzia. Too much shade will make it turn greener, but it is an attractive and bright lime-green. So plant in full sun or partial shade for the best results. It will grow in any ordinary well-drained soil, with moderate watering. Avoid planting in low-lying or wet areas. Water regularly during the first summer, and this is a plant that does benefit from richer soil and regular watering.

Maintenance and Pruning

This is definitely a low-maintenance plant, which makes it ideal for everyone who wants a good garden but doesn’t have a lot of time. It is usually free of pests or diseases and deer normally ignore it. In colder zones you might want to check it when you see new growth coming, and remove any dead stems. Delay pruning until after flowering, because the flowers develop on side-shoots growing from older stems. You can prune it as a more natural, upright shrub by shortening back younger stems and removing a few of the older ones. Or, for hedges and maximum foliage impact, prune harder. If you are more interested in this plant for its beautiful foliage you can trim anytime, but be aware that summer trimming will reduce flowering the following spring. If you do see any green stems, trace them back inside the plant and remove them entirely, or they will tend to dominate and turn the bush mostly green in time.

History and Origin of the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia

This plant is a selected garden form of Deutzia gracilis, one of a group of plants that is closely related to the mock orange (Philadelphus). This group was created by Peter Thunberg, a Swedish botanist who lived in Japan during the 18th century. He named it after a Dutch friend and amateur naturalist called Johan van der Deutz. Deutzia gracilis is often called the Slender Deutzia, and it was introduced into Europe from Japan around 1840. It has been grown in gardens in several older forms since then.

In 2002 Timothy Wood, a grower for Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan, was examining a batch of growing plants of the slender deutzia. He spotted a stem on one that had yellow leaves, instead of the usual green ones. He selected that branch, reproduced it from stem pieces, and grew the plants he had created. After trials of its stability, the nursery patented this plant with the name ‘Duncan’, in 2005. It is released with the registered name of Chardonnay Pearls® by Proven Winners®, a brand managed by Spring Meadow for a consortium of major growers.

Buying the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia at the Tree Center

The dual beauty of this terrific easy-care plant has won the hearts of everyone who grows it – and it will win your heart too. Plant it freely around your garden and bring it to life with its bold and fashionable citrus yellow tones. Order right away, because we sell large quantities of foliage shrubs, and our stock never lasts long.