Diervilla sessilifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- deer-VIL-ah ses-ih-lih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Southern Bush Honeysuckle is a compact, low-growing deciduous shrub that matures to 5 feet high and 5 feet wide. The plant thrives in windy, sunny, dry sites where other plants won't grow and is native to the slopes, and stream banks of the Great Smoky Mountains and the southern Appalachian Mountains. It spreads by suckers and will form thickets, which makes it ideal for stabilizing banks or using as a ground cover. The dark green leaves have red veins and the trumpet-shaped sulpher-yellow blooms flower all summer. The genus name honors a French surgeon named Dierville who observed the bush-honeysuckle growing in Canada in 1699-1700. The species name is in reference to the sessile leaves. The common name bush honeysuckle refers to the appearance of the flowers, which resemble those of plants in the genus Lonicera (honeysuckles). However, this species should not to be confused with Lonicera japonica, which shares the common name bush honeysuckle but is an exotic invasive species.
Bush Honeysuckle is easy to grow in average moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. The plant will spread by underground stems to form colonies, but it is not considered to be invasive. It is drought tolerant, hardy, adaptable to a range of soil pH and soil types and will tolerate some shade. About the only things it does not tolerate is salt and poor-draining clay soils. Prune in late winter or early spring to control the size and remove dead stems; however, keep in mind that blossoms are borne on the tip of new growth.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. Leaf spot and powdery mildew can occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Butterfly'
3 to 5 feet high, deep yellow flowers and glossy dark green foliage turns purple in fall. - 'Cold Splash'
creamy-white and green variegated foliage, 2 to 4 feet high and wide. - 'LPDC Podaras' COOL SPLASH
- 'Butterfly'
- 'Butterfly', 'Cold Splash', 'LPDC Podaras' COOL SPLASH
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Butterfly'
3 to 5 feet high, deep yellow flowers and glossy dark green foliage turns purple in fall. - 'Cold Splash'
creamy-white and green variegated foliage, 2 to 4 feet high and wide. - 'LPDC Podaras' COOL SPLASH
- 'Butterfly'
- 'Butterfly', 'Cold Splash', 'LPDC Podaras' COOL SPLASH
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Diervilla
- Species:
- sessilifolia
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Introduced to Korea.
- Wildlife Value:
- Special Value to Bumble Bees and attracts hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown capsule, 1/4 inch or longer, with several seeds. Displays from August through October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The trumpet-shaped, two lipped, yellow blooms are a 1/2 inch across and are borne in 2 to 3 inch crowded clusters of terminal and axillary cymes. It flowers June through August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are glossy and dark green with red veins and stems. They are 2 to 6 inches long and new growth is bronze-purple. Rounded to cordate bases and toothed margins, are sessile. Foliage sometimes acquires attractive reddish-purplish shades in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Wind