When does bush honeysuckle bloom?

Diervilla lonicera typically flowers from June through August, producing small tubular yellow blooms that often turn orange or reddish with age.

What pollinators visit Diervilla lonicera?

Bees, butterflies, and moths are the main visitors to the flowers of Diervilla lonicera, which offer nectar throughout the summer bloom period.

How much sun and water does bush honeysuckle need?

This shrub grows best in part sun with medium moisture, though it tolerates a range of light from fuller sun to lighter shade once established.

What kind of habitat suits Diervilla lonicera?

It is often found on rocky slopes, open woodlands, and along woodland edges where drainage is good and some direct sun reaches the plant.

Is Diervilla lonicera deciduous?

Yes, this shrub drops its leaves in fall and produces new foliage each spring, often with reddish tints on new growth.

Is Bush-honeysuckle toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bush-honeysuckle as toxic to livestock.

Is Bush-honeysuckle HOA-friendly?

Bush-honeysuckle is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Bush-honeysuckle

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Diervilla lonicera

Last reviewed: September 2026

Diervilla lonicera is a low, spreading shrub that blooms yellow from June through August and does well in part sun with medium moisture, including on rocky slopes and open woodland edges.

Toxicity unknown

Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Bush-honeysuckle as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–48" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CT, DE, GA, IA and 20 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

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Bush-honeysuckle is a compact native shrub that produces small yellow tubular flowers throughout summer. It forms a neat, rounded mound that works well in foundation plantings and mixed borders. The plant is low-maintenance and adapts to various light conditions.

Growing Bush-honeysuckle

Grow Bush-honeysuckle in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bush-honeysuckle is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

Host plant for spring azure, hummingbird moth.

The tubular flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and moths during its long summer bloom period. This native shrub provides important nectar sources when many other plants have finished flowering.

Common questions

When does bush honeysuckle bloom?: Diervilla lonicera typically flowers from June through August, producing small tubular yellow blooms that often turn orange or reddish with age.
What pollinators visit Diervilla lonicera?: Bees, butterflies, and moths are the main visitors to the flowers of Diervilla lonicera, which offer nectar throughout the summer bloom period.
How much sun and water does bush honeysuckle need?: This shrub grows best in part sun with medium moisture, though it tolerates a range of light from fuller sun to lighter shade once established.
What kind of habitat suits Diervilla lonicera?: It is often found on rocky slopes, open woodlands, and along woodland edges where drainage is good and some direct sun reaches the plant.
Is Diervilla lonicera deciduous?: Yes, this shrub drops its leaves in fall and produces new foliage each spring, often with reddish tints on new growth.
Is Bush-honeysuckle toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Bush-honeysuckle as toxic to livestock.
Is Bush-honeysuckle HOA-friendly?: Bush-honeysuckle is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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