Diervilla lonicera

RHS Plant Profile

bush honeysuckle

Synonyms

Diervilla canadensis

Shrubs

A small, suckering, deciduous shrub to around 1.2m tall with glossy, lance-shaped leaves to 12cm long that emerge bronze-green in spring and may turn shades of orange, yellow and red in autumn. Small, tubular, yellow to orange, honeysuckle-like flowers are borne in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Sand Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Suckering
Genus: Diervilla are are suckering deciduous shrubs with simple ovate to lance-shaped leaves and axillary or terminal clusters of tubular yellow flowers in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Subarctic N America to C & E USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings, or separate suckers in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 6

Pests

May be susceptible to honeysuckle aphids, Thrips and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, fungal leaf spot, silver leaf and honey fungus (rarely)