Kodiak Green® Diervilla

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 7

Electric chartreuse growth sets Kodiak Green® Diervilla apart from every other green shrub in the border. Diervilla × splendens ‘SMNDSA’ pushes out bright lime new leaves that hold their color, then back it up with clear yellow summer flowers and burgundy fall bracts. At 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, it forms a dense, mounded shrub that fills space quickly without becoming unruly. Unlike older bush honeysuckles, this North American native is well behaved and non-invasive. 

Summer brings clusters of yellow blooms that draw bees and butterflies in steady waves. The foliage carries the show between bloom cycles and shifts to warm tones as temperatures cool. Part of the Kodiak® series and introduced through Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, it was selected for stronger color and improved habit. This shrub earns its keep in mass plantings, foundation beds, pollinator gardens, and large containers where durability matters.

Kodiak Green® Diervilla Care

Plant in full sun to part sun for the brightest foliage tones, however it tolerates lighter shade. Soil should drain well after rain, but this shrub adapts to clay, loam, or sandy ground with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots; once settled, it handles dry spells with little stress. Fertilizer is optional, though a slow-release woody plant formula in early spring can boost vigor in lean soils. 

Prune in early spring before new growth expands if shaping is needed. Every few years, remove one-third of the oldest stems at ground level to refresh density. The plant flowers on current season growth, so trimming will not sacrifice bloom.

Kodiak Green® Diervilla Spacing

Space shrubs 3 to 4 feet apart for a solid mass or give each plant room to mound individually. Let the Diervilla branches spill along a stone wall beneath coneflowers for a layered pollinator border, or plant against dark evergreen holly to intensify the foliage color. For containers, choose a pot at least 18 to 24 inches wide. 

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