Kolkwitzia amabilis

The beauty bush is a member of the honeysuckle or Caprifoliaceae family. It originated in China but now is widely cultivated in nurseries in Europe, Asia and North America. It grows up to 3 m tall, with an arching, vase-shaped habit.

According to various sources, Kolkwitzia amabilis has been re-categorized as Linnaea amabilis, although the original name is still widely accepted.

• It is primarily grown for its outstanding spring flowers and graceful arching branches; it also has exfoliating bark on mature stems.
• Leaves are deciduous, opposite, simple, with broad-ovate dark green leaves up to 7.5 cm long, entire or with a few sparse shallow teeth, turning an undistinguished yellow in fall.
• Flowers are bell-shaped, pink, with yellow throats, appearing in clusters (corymbs to 7.5 cm wide) in a profuse mid-spring bloom.
• Fruit is a hairy, ovoid capsule approximately 0.6 cm long.