Add Beautybush to a Shrub Border for Pink Blooms in May and June

The beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) is part of the Caprifoliaceae family so it is related to the honeysuckle. This woody, deciduous bush can reach 10 feet high and wide. This plant does well in Zones 4 to 8/9 and flowers best in full sun. The pink flowers bloom in late spring and last for several weeks. There are cultivars available that offer a range of pink flower colors. The bell-shaped flowers can completely cover the plant and make a dramatic show in the garden.

The shrub is drought tolerant and will grow in a variety of soils including those that contain sandy loam or some clay. It prefers a pH from 5 to 8. Do not fertilize a beautybush unless a soil test determines that there is a nutrient deficiency. Be careful not to over-water this shrub. It likes moist, well drained soil conditions. Beautybush is also wind resistant which means a mass planting can be used as a hedge to lessen the effects of strong winds.

The longer branches drape to form a shape like water cascading from a fountain. Beautybush can easily look unkempt and makes a poor specimen plant, but it can look good in a shrub border or as a backdrop to shorter flowering plants. Pruning younger plants may encourage flower development, but over pruning will means the loss of the flower-laden arches.

The leaf color is a darker blue-green with a dull surface. Consider a front border planting of the Kingfisher Daisy (Felicia), an annual with blue petals and a yellow center. Another option would be using the Michaelmas Daisy with its pink or purple flowers and yellow center. Match either one with a hardy geranium like Claridge Druce with its sage-green leaves and dark veined pink flowers that appear from June through August.

At least annually and after the blooms have faded, remove any dead branches or any that appear to be diseased. Pruning older branches, or crossed branches can improve the health of the shrub. Always cut the branches close to the base of the plant. Deadheading spent blooms is not necessary, but will improve the appearance of the shrub for the rest of the growing season.

Beautybush is subject to gray mold. Gray mold is a fungal disease that can appear as blight on stems, buds, flowers, and leaves. There is no cure and prevention of the mold comes from keeping the plant healthy. The mold starts growing on dead plant material and can move into any weak living tissue.

Sources
Michigan State University Extension Service, http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00000823.html
Backyard Gardener, http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_3aa3.html
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, http://urbanext.illinois.edu/ShrubSelector/detail_problem.cfm?PathogenID=33