2 named cultivars

shrubN. America Native

Northern Bush Honeysuckle

The Story

Plant Bio

Diervilla lonicera, or northern bush honeysuckle, is a low suckering deciduous shrub native to eastern North America, making a mound two to three feet high and two to four across. Pointed, finely toothed leaves turn red and bronze in autumn. Small yellow tubular flowers open in clusters through June and July and age to a deeper orange.

It suckers freely and will form a broad colony, which is exactly what makes it useful for holding a bank or filling a rough slope and unhelpful in a tidy border. Plant it where the spread is welcome, or slice around the clump with a spade each spring to keep it contained; both are easier than lifting it later.

Uses & Benefits:

Yellow tubular flowers ageing to orange through summer, followed by red and bronze autumn colour.

Suckering habit and drought tolerance make it one of the better native shrubs for holding a difficult bank.

A North American native whose summer flowers draw hummingbirds and butterflies at a thin point in the season.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

33 inches

Width

36 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Low to medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern North America

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring or autumn in sun or part shade.
Choose average, dry to medium, well-drained soil.
Allow room for suckering, or plan to contain it.
Water through the first season while it establishes.
Prune immediately after flowering if shaping is needed.
Cut back hard every few years to rejuvenate old clumps.

Pro Tip

It flowers on new wood, so a hard renovation cut costs at most one season and restores a tired, woody colony.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Use it on banks and slopes where it can spread 🌿
Plant it in sun or part shade ☀️
Prune straight after flowering ✂️
Let it colonise rough ground for erosion control 🪨

Don't

Plant it in a small tidy border without containment ❌
Site it in permanently wet ground ❌
Confuse it with invasive bush honeysuckles of the genus Lonicera ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Contain
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Erosion control on banks and slopesLow informal hedge or massed shrub plantingNaturalising in woodland edges

Companion Plants

Lowbush Blueberry Little Bluestem Wild Geranium Bearberry Pennsylvania Sedge

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Northern Bush Honeysuckle questions

What zones can Northern Bush Honeysuckle grow in?

Northern Bush Honeysuckle is hardy in USDA Zones 4–7. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Northern Bush Honeysuckle deer resistant?

Yes — Northern Bush Honeysuckle is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Northern Bush Honeysuckle bloom?

Northern Bush Honeysuckle typically blooms in early to midsummer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Northern Bush Honeysuckle need full sun?

Northern Bush Honeysuckle does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Northern Bush Honeysuckle drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Northern Bush Honeysuckle handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.