Kolkwitzia amabilis, commonly known as Beautybush, is a spreading deciduous shrub indigenous to China. Beautybush is a rapidly growing plant with gracefully hanging branches that display clusters of pink, bell shaped flowers in mid to late spring. Beautybush is commonly used for shrubs and garden borders, and provides an eye-catching interval between the blossoming of spring and summer flowers.
Beautybush is a fast grower, typically reaching heights of 8 to 10 feet and a width to match. Because of this size and reach, it can be considered coarse and cumbersome. Beautybush's arching, vase-shaped appearance also can make it seem a bit old-fashioned (Beautybush was popular in ornamental gardens of the 1930s and 40s).
However, the Beautybush earns its name with its flowers. Pink with yellow throats, they are about 1 inch long and greatly enliven a spring garden. The offsetting foliage is small, oval, and gray-green, ending in an elongated tip.
Because of the similarity of its common name, the Beautybush is sometimes confused with the Callicarpa americana, or Beautyberry, a deciduous shrub that blooms in early autumn and is renowned for its bright violet berries.
The Beautybush flowers best in full sun, though it will tolerate partial shade. Position Beautybush to receive four hours or more of direct sunlight in well drained, limey or alkaline soil.
Pruning will help keep the Beautybush under control, but make it timely. Beautybush blooms on old wood, so pruning in spring means fewer spring flowers. Prune your Beautybush after spring bloom to eliminate old branches.