There are over 50 species of Deutzia with about 10 being used in landscapes. The shrubs are quite similar to the Philadelphus (Mockorange) which have 4 petals in their single flowers while the Deutzias have 5. Deutzias bloom on the previous year's wood.

The genus was named by Carl von Thunberg in honor of a friend, Johann van der Deutz of Amsterdam.