Other Common Name: Bronze Leaved Diervilla
Bush Honeysuckle has become a popular landscaping shrub in recent years and is available at most nurseries.
Bush Honeysuckle is not a true Honeysuckle in the Lonicera genus. Its common name is from the Honeysuckle-like opposite leaf arrangement and appearance.
The five parted flowers are yellow and tubular and are a favorite of bees and moths. The flowers emerge in early June and flower on and off throughout the summer months.
I have seen it growing on north facing slopes in the southern part of Minnesota. Also on steep gravel slopes in acidic soil in the Great Lakes region.If the soil is rich, it can spread quickly by underground rhizomes and form a colony. We have planted Bush Honeysuckle in our yard in several places, it does really well in our gravel soils.
Bush Honeysuckle is the larval host for the Fawn Sphinx moth (Sphinx kalmiae).
It is native to eastern North America.
See map.
I am not familiar to bush honeysuckle. I was lead to believe the vine honeysuckle was an invasive species and I should not encourage it growth although I love the smell. I the bush variety available in gardening shops?
ReplyDeleteHi Lifeshighway,
ReplyDeleteYes, Bush Honeysuckle is available in the Midwest in garden centers I don't know about its availablily outside of this area though.
Heather
Heather, I have never seen it in a garden center here, and we have a wide selection, but maybe I just wasn't looking. I have seen it growing in Maine in the wild in a full sun western facing location and colony would be a polite word for it. I think it's a lovely plant though and would grow it myself. Lifeshighway, the invasive honeysuckle vine is Japanese, but there are many beautiful native honeysuckle vines that are very worth growing. Carolyn
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know about the availability in your neck of the woods. And I agree there are several great native honeysuckle vines, some are hard to find for sale. Thanks for answering that for Lifeshighway.
Heather
Every time I read one of your posts it is accompanied by a sense of "I want one, too!" I feel sad that SC seems to be an island without this plant in your regional map. Sphinx caterpillars of all types enchant me, I wish that one was common here!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Appalachian Feet. I'm consistently reading these posts and thinking, 'yes, and that one too, add it to my list of plants to find'. I've yet to find a good nursery in my area that carries much in the way of native plants though.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful plant! I see that it grows as far south as my state of Alabama. Since it spreads by rhizomes, I wonder how invasive it may be.
ReplyDeleteHi Appalachian Feet,
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint!
I'm sure you have many native shrubs that would be just as nice, and probably more variety in your southern climes.
Heather
Hi Marguerite,
ReplyDeleteI would think you may have pretty good luck finding this at your local nursery in PEI. I've seen it for sale in Ontario so there must be some Canadian growers who have it for sale.
Heather
Hi Deb,
ReplyDeleteLooks like it's only native to one county in Alabama.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Alabama&statefips=01&symbol=DILO
Heather