Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Bold foliage and dainty flowers make the Diervilla sessilifolia or Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle stand out. This deciduous shrub is native to North America, so it requires little care once it has acclimated. Yellow flowers last from spring through summer. The tiny trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in clusters, but the flowers are not the only showy feature of this plant. Red leaves with pronounced veining offset the mostly bright green foliage. 

The Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle has a mounding growth habit that gives this shrub a full appearance. Plant this shrub as a hedge or foundation planting, or include it in a mixed bed. The Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle is heat tolerant, making it a good fit in hot climates. This bush honeysuckle grows in zones 3 through 8. Pollinators frequent the tiny flowers, while deer mostly leave this shrub alone.

Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle Care

This honeysuckle shrub needs at least 6 hours of sunlight. It can live in various soil conditions, but it grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Young plants need water for the first year, while established plants are extremely drought tolerant and only need limited water during a dry spell. Fertilize young shrubs to set them up for success, but this bush honeysuckle is not a heavy feeder.

Prune the shrub to remove overgrowth and clean up the shape after the flowers fade. Regular pruning encourages bushier growth. Only remove up to one-third of the growth at a time. Remove dead or damaged growth as necessary. The Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle does not require any special winter care.

Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle Spacing

The Firefly® Bush Honeysuckle can stand 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Space shrubs 2 feet apart when creating a continuous planting or feature one plant in a 12-inch wide container.