Diervilla sessifolia 'BUTTERFLY'

Bush honeysuckle is native to North America (Canada) and consists of 3 species and quite a few hybrids or varieties to this day. However, diervilla sessilifolia is a species which comes from S.E. USA and is called southern bush honeysuckle.

Butterfly is a yellow flowering variety of bush honeysuckle with rich green leaves. They are stalk-less, lance-shaped, acuminate, and deciduous. 2-lipped, honeysuckle-like, sulphur yellow flowers come out from June for about 6 to 8 weeks. The plant is sometimes called American weigela because of its similarity to weigela before it shows its different flowers.

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 as it flowers on previous year's wood. Another nice feature is the colour of new twigs which turn reddish brown when they mature in midsummer.

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 part shade. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update: 22-03-2019