Diervilla sessilifolia aka Bush Honeysuckle

Diervilla sessilifolia is a small shrub called southern bush honeysuckle. It belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Its home range lies in the southeastern United States. It grows from Alabama and Georgia north to Tennessee and Virginia. The range also includes North Carolina and South Carolina. Wild plants grow on slopes, bluffs, stream banks, and woodland edges. This species differs from invasive honeysuckles in the genus Lonicera.

Plants reach 3–5 feet (0.9–1.52 metres) tall and wide. They shed their leaves each year and form low, rounded mounds. Arching stems give the plant a broad, spreading shape. Underground stems send up suckers that can form dense patches. Young twigs have ridges and start green with red tones. They turn light brown as they age. Older bark turns gray or reddish brown and peels in thin strips. The simple leaves grow in pairs along the stems. They have tapered tips, toothed edges, and little or no stalk. Dark green leaves may show red veins and bronze new growth. Fall leaves can turn red or purple, but color varies.

Small yellow flowers form tight clusters at stem tips and leaf joints. Each flower has a trumpet shape with two lips. Stamens extend beyond the mouth of the flower. Most sources place the main bloom from June through August. Chicago reports some flowers from late May into September. The blooms have scent and draw butterflies, bumble bees, and hummingbirds. Brown seed capsules follow the flowers. These small, oblong fruits hold several seeds. They remain on display from August through October.

Grow this shrub in sun or partial shade. It accepts many soil types and a wide pH range. Good drainage matters more than soil texture. Poorly drained clay and salt cause problems. Average moisture suits it, though it also tolerates drought. It can grow on dry, windy sites. Sources give USDA zones 4–8 or 5–8; RHS rates it H5. Growth proceeds at a medium pace.

Use it for low hedges, shrub borders, or foundation beds. Groups fit woodland gardens and help hold soil on slopes. Its suckers also make it useful as ground cover. Sources do not class this spreading habit as invasive. Serious pest and disease issues are uncommon. Leaf spot, powdery mildew, and aphids can still occur. Softwood cuttings and divided suckers provide ways to raise more plants. The supplied sources establish neither human edibility nor toxicity.