Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
[dy-er-VIL-ah lon-ISS-er-ah]

Deciduous Perennial Shrub in the Caprifoliaceae Family
Dark green pointy leaves turn a nice shade of red in the fall. Dainty yellow flowers from spring into summer.

Diervilla lonicera (Northern/Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle) is a native North American deciduous shrub found across the eastern and central United States and Canada, in cool, rocky forests, forest edges, and disturbed or rocky slopes. It forms a dense, upright to spreading, multi-stemmed shrub to about 3-4 feet tall, often suckering to form colonies.

Dark green summer foliage turns rich burgundy, red, and orange in fall. Clusters of small, tubular yellow flowers appear in late spring to midsummer, drawing hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, followed by seed capsules that feed birds and other wildlife. Despite the common name, it is not related to the invasive non-native Lonicera honeysuckles -- it's often recommended as a native substitute for them.

Pros

  • True North American native, a good substitute for invasive Lonicera honeysuckles
  • Pollinator-friendly yellow flowers and good red-orange fall foliage color
  • Drought-tolerant and widely adaptable once established

Cons

  • Suckers and spreads readily, especially in full sun -- best sited where colonization is welcome
  • Flowers are small and not especially showy
  • May show leaf spot or powdery mildew in some conditions
Why Like A true North American native shrub, often recommended as a native alternative to invasive non-native bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.). Supports hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators with its summer flowers, and provides seeds for birds.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Widely Adaptable
Zones 3a - 7b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Drought Tolerant, Fall Color, Full Sun, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Shrub Fall Color Shrubs, Wildlife Shrubs, Yellow Flowering Shrubs
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

American Hazelnut
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!