Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Pink Cloud'

Kolkwitzia ‘Pink Cloud’ is one of those proper “late spring moments” shrubs — a deciduous beauty bush that smothers itself in soft pink flowers and gives borders a gentle, romantic lift. It’s generous rather than fussy, and when it’s in bloom it looks like it’s been lightly dusted with blossom from top to bottom. It grows with a naturally bushy habit, making it ideal for the middle or back of a border, informal cottage-style planting, or as a flowering shrub you can build a whole border around. The flowers are lightly scented and very attractive to pollinators, so it’s a nice one for bringing more life into the garden without having to do anything clever. It’s happy in full sun or semi shade, and it’ll take most soils — chalk, clay, loam or sand — across acidic to alkaline conditions. Very hardy and low maintenance; if it needs shaping, prune just after flowering, removing a few of the oldest stems to encourage fresh new growth and better flowering next year.