Also called diervilla, bush honeysuckle is an easy-care native shrub that attracts pollinators with cheerful yellow flowers.
Its useful for a low-growing hedge, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart.
Thisnative shrubalso grows well on slopes, where it helps stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Fill in around the shrub with native soil and water well.
you might transplant the suckers to other areas of the garden or share them with friends.
The more sun it gets, the more spectacular the fall foliage color will be.
Credit: Bill Stites
Soil and Water
Anywell-drained soilwill do for this adaptable shrub, even those on rocky slopes.
It is quite cold tolerant but it prefers a location where summer temperatures are not too hot.
It adapts to both high and low humidity.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is generally needed at planting time.
Young plants may benefit from the occasional addition of aslow-release fertilizerto encourage growth and flowering.
Mature plants generally need no additional fertilizer.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Pruning
Little pruning is usually needed because it naturally grows in a pleasing mounded shape.
If you want to refresh your bush honeysuckle, it can be pruned in spring.
It can even be cut all the way to the ground if you wantit will grow back quickly.
Cut suckers as they arise if they grow beyond the space you want them.
Pests and Problems
Bush honeysuckle has no seriouspest or disease problems.
Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spots sometimes occur during wet periods, but usually require no treatment.
Transplant the suckers to containers another spot in the garden and keep them watered until their roots become established.
it’s possible for you to also propagate this shrub from either softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
While seed propagation is possible, it takes quite a long time to produce a mature shrub from seed.
Types of Bush Honeysuckle
All the listed varieties produce small bright yellow flowers all summer long.
They vary, however in their foliage colors.
In fall the leaves turn red and bronze.
Kodiak Red
New spring growth of Kodiak Red is deep burgundy.
In summer leaves turn green with red margins and in fall they morph to brilliant red.
They turn vivid orange-red in fall.
This shrub adapts well to dry shade.
Try thesecompanion plant combinationsin your garden.
Its white flower clusters and deep green leaves are born on gracefully arching stems.
They thrive in sun or part shade and tolerate drought.
Ninebarks grow 5 to 6 feet tall and wide and prefer a sunny site but will tolerate part shade.
They grow 4 to 7 feet tall and wide and are adaptable to the same conditions as bush honeysuckle.
In fact, its spreading habit is ideal for stabilizing a bank or creating a groundcover.
If you want to control its spread, new shoots developed from suckers are easily removed.
The plants grow back easily, so just consider it some natural pruning.
It is in a separate, very small genus with only 3 species that are all North American natives.
