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Diervilla lonicera
Diervilla lonicera Mill.
Northern Bush Honeysuckle, Northern Bush-honeysuckle, Diervilla
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)
Synonym(s): Diervilla diervilla, Diervilla lonicera var. hypomalaca
USDA Symbol: dilo
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
Northern bush-honeysuckle is a small, mound-shaped, deciduous shrub to 3 ft. Exfoliating bark reveals orange inner bark. Dark-green leaves change from yellow to red in autumn. Small, bell-shaped flowers are yellow-green at first, becoming orange or purplish-red.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green
Fruit: Brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , CT , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Nf. to Man., s. to s. New England, NC mts., n.e. IN & n.e. IA
Native Habitat: Dry woods; sandy sites
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky, slightly acid soils.
Conditions Comments: Bush honeysuckle suckers freely, forming broad thickets with age. It is very short-lived.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Low.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Bumble BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagate by seed or cuttings. Both softwood and semi-hardwoods cuttings root readily.Seed Collection: Fruits of this genus are usually hand-picked and seeds are extracted by maceration.
Seed Treatment: No special treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Plant identfication
October 21, 2009
Hi...Can you please identfy the tall, evergreen shrub with purple plum-colored foliage that I have noticed in winter locally?...Hope so, need he color! THX
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Native plants of dune erosion control in Michigan
May 30, 2008
We care for Lake Michigan dune near our home in New Buffalo and would like to provide erosion control with native species that will also enhance the beauty of the dune with long lasting flowers. The ...
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From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterAdditional resources
USDA: Find Diervilla lonicera in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Diervilla lonicera in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Diervilla lonicera
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-06Research By: TWC Staff