Overview
Uses: Front of the border, foundation plantings, outdoor containers, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: A compact deutzia with bright lime-yellow foliage all season. In late spring, pearl-like buds open into masses of small, fragrant, white star-shaped flowers. Deer resistant and easy to place.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Mounding, Rounded — compact and dense.
Bloom Color: White (fragrant)
Foliage Color: Lime-Yellow
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Bright lime-yellow leaves, topped in late spring with a cloud of tiny white stars.
Chardonnay Pearls® earns its place with foliage first. The leaves emerge a vivid lime-yellow and keep that glow through the growing season, which makes the plant stand out in a partly shaded bed, next to dark-leaved shrubs, or against a brick or stone foundation.
In late spring the stems fill with round, pearl-like buds that open into masses of small, star-shaped white flowers. White blossoms against yellow-green leaves give the plant a fresh, light look, and the flowers carry a gentle fragrance you will notice up close.
The plant forms a dense, rounded mound about two to three feet tall and wide, so it fits under windows, along walks, and at the front of mixed borders without crowding its neighbors. It also works well in a patio container, and deer tend to leave it alone.
Care
Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Morning sun with some afternoon shade suits it especially well in hot summer areas, where the bright foliage can scorch in strong afternoon sun. In deeper shade the leaves stay brighter than most shrubs but flowering will be lighter.
Deutzia grows best in average, well-drained soil with steady moisture. It adapts to a range of soil types but does not like ground that stays soggy.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Once settled, it handles short dry spells, though regular water during long hot stretches keeps the foliage looking fresh. A two-inch layer of mulch helps hold moisture.
Feed once in early spring with a slow release fertilizer. Heavy feeding is not needed.
Deutzia blooms on the previous year's growth, so do any shaping right after the flowers fade in late spring. Every few years, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base to keep the plant dense and productive.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size and bright color make it a good container shrub for a porch or patio. Use a pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia for Sale Online?
Our Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded mound. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a low hedge or group planting.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia?
The botanical name is Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls® ‘Duncan’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub grown for its bright foliage and spring flowers.
What are some common names for this plant?
The species is commonly called slender deutzia.
Will it grow in partial shade?
Yes. Partial shade is one of its best uses. The lime-yellow foliage brightens spots under high tree canopy or beside a shaded wall, where many flowering shrubs look thin. It flowers most heavily with a few hours of direct sun, but even with lighter flowering the foliage carries the plant. For more shrubs to pair with it, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
Is Chardonnay Pearls® Deutzia deer resistant?
Yes. Deer generally leave deutzia alone, so it is a good fit for open front-yard beds where other shrubs get browsed. No plant is completely deer-proof, and young plants may still be sampled in a hard winter. Browse more options in our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
