What soil does Beauty bush grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Beauty bush hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Beauty bush toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Beauty bush be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Beauty bush need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Beauty bush cost?

It sells for roughly €4.90 to €20 in local shops, depending on size.

Beauty bush

Kolkwitzia amabilis

Beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €4.90.

Illustration of Beauty bush — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A large deciduous shrub with arching branches that are smothered in pale pink, yellow-throated bell flowers in late spring. It is very undemanding: once established it takes drought, cold and city air well and grows in almost any well-drained soil. Allow for a height and spread of 3 m, and prune only after flowering, because it blooms on the previous year's wood.

Watch out for

It has no serious pests or diseases. Within a few years it becomes dense and bare at the base, so it pays to cut some of the oldest stems to the ground after flowering. Hard pruning in late winter costs that year's bloom. Outside its flowering time it offers little ornament.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, pink

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	1.8–4 m × 1.8–3 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–June, pink
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	250 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €4.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
40-60 cm	approx. €20
size not stated	approx. €4.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Plants for screening Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Fragrant plants Fragrant shrubs

Looks good next to it

Common yew

Taxus baccata

Heartleaf bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia

Winter heath

Erica carnea