Diervilla x splendens 'El Madrigal' DIVA

Bush honeysuckle is native to North America (Canada) and consists of 3 species and quite a few hybrids or varieties to this day. splendens is a deciduous hybrid honeysuckle of garden origin renowned for yellow flowers. Sometimes it is also called American weigela.

DIVA is a German variety of bush honeysuckle bred by Spilkers Jungpflanzen from Barmstedt, home town of a famous rhododendron breeder Hachmann Baumschule. The plant received a Gold Medal at prestigious fair of novelties Plantarium in Dutch Boskoop in 2017.

The dominant feature is its dark burgundy red to almost chocolate brown foliage which creates a perfect background for small, typically honeysuckle-like, 2-lipped, sulphur yellow flowers. Leaves are stalk-less, lance-shaped, acuminate, and turn rich red and orange shades in autumn. Only insolated leaves are red, bottom leaves and those inside the shrub are dark green. Flowers come out from June for about 6 to 8 weeks on previous year’s wood. If the plant was pruned in spring flowering may be shy and is delayed until late August and September. As the flowers mature a scarlet red blotch is developed in their throat. Another handsome feature is the red colour of new twigs.

Bush honeysuckle is a suckering shrub growing vigorously into bushy and dense thickets about one meter tall and wide. It can be pruned in any way you like, but if flowers are what you are after prune it immediately after flowering in summer.

It can take almost any well-drained soil, however, for best results provide humus-rich, constantly moist soil and mulch it well to prevent the roots from drying out which might result in slower growth, weak flowering, and smaller leaves. Grow it in full sun or light shade. Very hardy to about -40°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update: 22-03-2019