shrubN. America Native

Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle

Name: Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle
Brand: Diervilla
Availability: InStock

Diervilla 'Kodiak Red'

$26.14

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Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

48 inches

Width

48 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Low

Humidity

Adaptable

Lifespan

Deciduous shrub

Native To

North America (parentage)

Toxicity

Non-toxic

The Story

Plant Bio

Diervilla, or bush honeysuckle, is a genus of tough, adaptable, suckering shrubs native to North America. They are valued for their resilience in difficult sites, non-invasive nature (unlike some Lonicera), and their appeal to pollinators. Kodiak® Red ('G2X88544') is a standout cultivar for its season-long foliage color. New growth emerges in spring with a rich burgundy tint, which persists through summer and intensifies to a brilliant fiery red in the autumn.

Bloom Period:

EarlyLate

Uses & Benefits:

Kodiak® Red offers multi-season appeal with its colorful foliage that changes throughout the year, culminating in a spectacular red display in autumn. The small, sulfur-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers add a subtle charm in summer. It provides texture and color in mass plantings or as a specimen in a mixed border.

This is a problem-solver plant. Its extreme toughness, drought tolerance, and ability to grow in sun or shade make it suitable for challenging landscape situations like dry slopes, woodland edges, and low-maintenance commercial plantings. Its suckering habit makes it an excellent choice for erosion control and bank stabilization.

As a North American native cultivar, it supports local ecosystems. The flowers are a valuable nectar source for a variety of pollinators, including bumblebees, other native bees, and hummingbirds. It is also a larval host plant for the Fawn Sphinx moth.

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Nature Hills

In Stock$26.14

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Planting

How to Grow

Select any site from full sun to shade with average soil.
This plant is highly adaptable and requires no soil amendment.
Dig a hole as deep and twice as wide as the pot.
Remove the plant from the container and place it in the hole.
Backfill with the soil you removed.
Water after planting and only during extreme drought thereafter.

Pro Tip

For the most vibrant red fall color, plant in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it and forget it; this is a very low-maintenance shrub.
Prune in late winter or early spring to rejuvenate the plant.
Use it for erosion control on dry, difficult slopes.
Allow it to spread by suckers to form a natural thicket if desired.

Don't

Do not plant in constantly wet or boggy soil.
Avoid excessive fertilization, which is unnecessary.
Don't worry about deer or rabbits; they tend to leave it alone.
Don't confuse it with invasive Asian honeysuckle shrubs.

Seasonal Care Calendar

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

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Tough mass planting for slopes and banksColorful informal hedgeLow-maintenance filler for mixed borders

Companion Plants

Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' Spiraea tomentosa Physocarpus opulifolius 'Summer Wine'

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle questions

What zones can Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle grow in?

Kodiak Red 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 Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle deer resistant?

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

When does Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle bloom?

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

Does Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle need full sun?

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

Is Kodiak Red Bush Honeysuckle drought tolerant?

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