Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)

Kolkwitzia amabilis, commonly called beautybush, is a member of the honeysuckle family  is a flowering plant species in the Caprifoliaceae family and the genus *Linnaea*. It is a pink-flowered shrub native to China that is cultivated for ornamental purposes.

*Kolkwitzia amabilis* is extremely floriferous, much to the delight of butterflies. It produces star-shaped pink flowers with bright yellow throats in June. It is easy to grow and maintain.

 Height: 1.75 m

 Width: 1.75 m

 Hardiness zone: 4b

 Sun exposure: Sun, partial shade

It is closely related to Weigela and Diervilla. It is primarily grown for its outstanding spring flowers. It is a deciduous shrub that typically grows 6-10’ tall with an arching, vase-shaped habit. Bell-shaped, pink flowers with yellow throats appear in clusters (corymbs to 3” wide) in a profuse mid-spring bloom. Flowers are followed by capsule-like fruits that usually persist on the plants. Broad-ovate dark green leaves (to 3” long) turn an undistinguished yellow in fall. Exfoliating bark on mature stems provides some winter interest.

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Foliage of this cultivar reportedly produces best color in sun-filtered part shade locations. Prune out dead wood as needed. Shrub stems tend to become dense and overgrown after several years, in which case thinning stems or cutting back all stems to the ground may be advisable. Hard prunings to the ground may be performed in late winter or immediately after flowering. Plants bloom on old wood, so hard pruning in late winter will result in loss of bloom for the season, but plants stems will grow taller during the season.