Family

Caprifoliaceae

Description

Beauty bush is an old-fashioned deciduous shrub cherished for its profusion of bell-shaped pink flowers that appear in late spring, often nearly obscuring the arching branches beneath. Though somewhat informal in habit, its fountain-like structure is striking when planted as a specimen or in a naturalistic hedge. Tolerant of a wide range of soil types and light conditions, it is remarkably low maintenance and long-lived once established. In cooler zones, mature shrubs often become wild floriferous with age, offering a nostalgic garden presence that has endured for over a century.

 

Native to central China, Kolkwitzia amabilis was introduced to Western horticulture in the early 20th century and quickly gained popularity. It has since naturalized in parts of North America, particularly in old gardens and along roadsides, where remnants of earlier plantings persist.

Bloom Time

May to June