Diervilla sessilifolia

Common Names

Southern Bush Honeysuckle, Bush Honeysuckle, Butterfly Southern Bush Honeysuckle

Summary

Southern Bush Honeysuckle, Diervilla sessilifolia, is a compact, suckering deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States that typically grows 3–5 feet tall and wide. It forms thickets through underground suckers and features dark green leaves that may color bronze or purple in new growth, with clusters of sulfur-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers in June to July that attract bees and butterflies.

In cultivation, it grows best in full sun to partial shade, tolerates a range of soils including clay, and is drought-tolerant with well-drained conditions; it is hardy in USDA zones 4–8 and is not invasive. The plant spreads by suckers, making it suitable for ground cover, banks, or slope stabilization, and it benefits from pruning in late winter or early spring to control size. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-5 feet

Spread

3-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; can be moist or occasionally dry and does not tolerate poor drainage

Soil pH

No single ideal; adaptable to acidic (<6.0), neutral (6.0–8.0), and alkaline (>8.0) soils.

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green, glossy foliage, sometimes flushed purple or red when young, reddish-purplish in fall, spring foliage may appear BronzeGreen

Fall Foliage Color

Red/Burgundy, Orange, Purple, Yellow-Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium, Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and songbirds