Diervilla sessilifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- deer-VIL-ah ses-ih-lih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Southern Bush Honeysuckle is a low-growing deciduous shrub that thrives in windy, sunny, dry sites where other plants won't grow and is native to 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 where other plants won't grow. The dark green leaves have red veins and the trumpet-shaped yellow blooms flower all summer. 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.
- 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.
- 'Butterfly'
- 'Butterfly', 'Cold Splash'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- '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.
- 'Butterfly'
- 'Butterfly', 'Cold 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 East U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , GA , NC , SC , TN , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Special Value to Bumble Bees
- 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:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Brown capsule with several seeds. Displays from August through October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- 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 yellow blooms are 1/2 inch across and are borne in 2-3 inch 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
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- 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 2-6 in. long and new growth is bronze-purple. Rarely shows fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Wind
