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Bush-honeysuckle

Diervilla sessilifolia

Last reviewed: October 2026

Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia)
Photo: (c) lejones417, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Toxicity unknown

Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia) 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.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

36"–60" H × 36"–60" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, GA, NC, SC and 1 more states

Pollinators

bumble bees, native bees, hummingbird moths, butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

PiedmontBlue Ridge

A suckering, deciduous shrub with glossy, pointed leaves that turn orange-bronze in fall. Clusters of small yellow, honeysuckle-like flowers open from early summer into late summer. It spreads slowly by underground runners and is a good fit for woodland edges, slopes and mixed borders.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Bush-honeysuckle is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: foundation planting, mixed border, slope.

  • Suckers can spread; edge or prune to keep within bed

Wildlife value

Host plant for Bumblebee clearwing (Hemaris diffinis).

Flowers draw bumble bees, native bees and hummingbird moths through summer, and the shrub is a larval host for the bumblebee clearwing moth.

Common questions

How much sun does Bush-honeysuckle need?
Bush-honeysuckle grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Bush-honeysuckle bloom?
Bush-honeysuckle blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Bush-honeysuckle native?
Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia) is native to AL, GA, NC, SC and 1 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Bush-honeysuckle host?
Bush-honeysuckle is a larval host plant for Bumblebee clearwing (Hemaris diffinis).
Is Bush-honeysuckle HOA-friendly?
Bush-honeysuckle is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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