Kodiak® Black Diervilla

Light Needs

Full Shade to Full Sun

(Can Grow In Most Sunlight Conditions)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 7

Kodiak Black Diervilla is a great compact deciduous plant choice for introducing dark burgundy-black foliage into your perennial garden or boring all green shrub border. It also produces clusters of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers along its branches in early summer on new growth. The half-inch flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

This deciduous shrub drops its glossy leaves in the fall. The new green leaves that emerge in the spring quickly change to a dark red variegated color that becomes even darker in the fall. This plant can be grown in sun or shade conditions in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. This dense multi-stemmed mounded shrub matures to be 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. The multiple stems fill out this plant beginning at ground level.

Kodiak Black Diervilla Care

Kodiak Black Diervilla rivularis 'SMNDRSF' is a native North American species. It does require some maintenance to remove suckers that occasionally sprout. Prune in late winter or early spring. It’s drought-tolerant and deer resistant.

Kodiak Black Diervilla Spacing

This plant can be used in mass plantings, perennial borders, naturalized woodland gardens, foundation plantings and as a container plant. It is sometimes referred to as honeysuckle bush but it’s not invasive like some honeysuckles are. Space plants 4 to 5 feet apart on center.

Interesting Fact(s) - Diervilla is sometimes called "bush honeysuckle," but this species is not invasive at all, like some honeysuckles are.