Diervilla lonicera
northern bush honeysuckle
Overview
Diervilla lonicera is a low, deciduous, suckering shrub reaching 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) tall and spreading 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) wide by underground runners. Stems are slender and arching, with opposite, ovate to lance-shaped leaves 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) long that have finely toothed margins and taper to a long point. New foliage is often bronze-tinged, turning green in summer and red to purple in autumn. Pale to deep yellow tubular flowers about 0.5-0.75 inch (1.5-2 cm) long appear in small clusters at the branch tips and leaf axils from June through August, aging to orange-red. The flowers are visited by bees and hummingbirds. Slender, dry seed capsules follow. The shrub spreads steadily by suckers to form broad colonies and roots where stems touch the ground. It tolerates dry, rocky, and poor soils where many shrubs grow poorly. Older stems can be cut back to renew the clump.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland and Manitoba south to Georgia and west to Iowa. Grows on dry, rocky slopes, woodland edges, clearings, and ridges, often in thin or sandy soils.Suggested Uses
Planted for erosion control on banks and slopes, in shrub borders, and in native and pollinator gardens at 3-4 foot (0.9-1.2 m) spacing. The tubular flowers draw bees and hummingbirds, and the suckering habit binds soil on rough ground. Its spread makes it suited to naturalized areas and mass plantings rather than confined beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 4'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Bloom Information
Blooms June through August, peaking in early-to-midsummer. Each cluster flowers over 2-3 weeks, with new flowers opening as the shrub grows. The yellow flowers age to orange-red, so several colors appear at once. Scattered later flowers may follow into early fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight