The Stunning Hydrangea Alternative With Fragrant Flowers That Hummingbirds Love

From bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) to panicle (Hydrangea paniculata), there's no shortage of plants within the genus Hydrangea to choose from. These plants are an icon in landscaping, sporting large, eye-catching blooms that vary in color based on pH. However, while they tend to be the more common choice, they aren't the only genus in the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). Instead, you could opt for this traditional hydrangea alternative that produces star-shaped, fragrant flowers that hummingbirds can't get enough of.

Deutzias (Deutzia) are in the same family as your classic hydrangeas, but they're an entirely different genus, one that contains 68 different species, as well as several hybrids. This includes options such as the Ningbo deutzi (Deutzia ningpoensis), rose deutzia (Deutzia x rosea), and Japanese snow flower (Deutzia gracilis). These flowers typically bloom for a few weeks in May, giving your garden's transition from spring to summer a colorful start with their pink or white blooms. These fragrant flowers also happen to be a favorite among pollinators, making them a stylish choice for attracting more hummingbirds to your yard.

Overall, plants within the genus Deutzia are quite similar when it comes to their care requirements. However, some specifics, such as USDA growing zones, may vary, and it pays to brush up on the care requirements for your choice of deutzia before adding this showy plant to your yard.

The first step to starting your own pollinator garden using deutzias to attract hummingbirds is to familiarize yourself with these plants' hardiness zones. These determine the areas where you can grow deutzias as perennials. Looking at the genus as a whole, most deutzias are hardy in zones 5 through 8. However this may vary slightly among specific species, such as the Lemoine deutzia (Deutzia x lemoinei), which is instead hardy in zones 4 through 8. One interesting thing about deutzias is that they're compact enough that you can grow them in a container. As a result, if you choose this route and you're outside their hardiness zone, you could consider keeping them indoors for the winter.

Because it's the flowers of this plant that are so appealing to hummingbirds, you want to take the proper steps to ensure that it produces as many blooms as possible. That means choosing the right soil and sunlight exposure to support thriving growth. Fortunately, deutzias aren't too picky when it comes to soil. They can handle a variety of textures, from clay to sand, and they thrive at various pH levels. The key is to ensure that they have ample drainage while keeping the soil moist, although they are tolerant of drought. As far as sunlight goes, aim for a location in your yard with full sun or partial shade. That means that a north-facing fence or home perimeter may not be the best spot if attracting hummingbirds is your goal.