Northern Bush-Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) – W

Northern bush-honeysuckle should not be confused with nonnative , aggressive honeysuckles. As the hyphenated name suggests, this is not a true honeysuckle. This shrub is a workhorse tolerating various soil types and light conditions. It stays relatively small and is perfect for planting below windows in the home landscape.

•Height: 3′-4′

•Spread: 3′-4′

•Soil Type: loam, sand, poor, rocky soils

•Soil Moisture: dry, medium, drought tolerant

•Sun Exposure: full sun to partial shade

•Bloom Color: yellow, orange

•Bloom Time: June to August

The yellow honeysuckle-like flowers, which turn reddish in color as they mature, attract butterflies and other pollinators. The fruit capsules are desirable to many songbirds, in autumn and winter. Northern Bush Honeysuckle is a host plant for the Laurel Sphinx moth and the Snowberry Clearwing.

Diervilla lonicera has “perfect flowers,” which means that both male and female parts are contained on a single flower. The male and female flower parts develop in sequence, and the flowers themselves are self-infertile. Two-to-three plants are recommended for a reliable fruiting.