Diervilla x splendens 'El Madrigal' DIVA bush honeysuckle
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,6-1,3m
usual width
0,6-1,3m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-July
location
full to partial sun
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
3 (down to -40°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Bush honeysuckle is native to North America (Canada) and consists of 3 species and quite a few hybrids or varieties to this day. splendens is a deciduous hybrid honeysuckle of garden origin renowned for yellow flowers. Sometimes it is also called American weigela.
Description of the plant:
DIVA is a German variety of bush honeysuckle bred by Spilkers Jungpflanzen from Barmstedt, home town of a famous rhododendron breeder Hachmann Baumschule. The plant received a Gold Medal at prestigious fair of novelties Plantarium in Dutch Boskoop in 2017.The dominant feature is its dark burgundy red to almost chocolate brown foliage which creates a perfect background for small, typically honeysuckle-like, 2-lipped, sulphur yellow flowers. Leaves are stalk-less, lance-shaped, acuminate, and turn rich red and orange shades in autumn. Only insolated leaves are red, bottom leaves and those inside the shrub are dark green. Flowers come out from June for about 6 to 8 weeks on previous year’s wood. If the plant was pruned in spring flowering may be shy and is delayed until late August and September. As the flowers mature a scarlet red blotch is developed in their throat. Another handsome feature is the red colour of new twigs.
Bush honeysuckle is a suckering shrub growing vigorously into bushy and dense thickets about one meter tall and wide. It can be pruned in any way you like, but if flowers are what you are after prune it immediately after flowering in summer.
It can take almost any well-drained soil, however, for best results provide humus-rich, constantly moist soil and mulch it well to prevent the roots from drying out which might result in slower growth, weak flowering, and smaller leaves. Grow it in full sun or light shade. Very hardy to about -40°C (USDA zone 3).
Last update: 22-03-2019
WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR PLANT?
Goods are shipped all over Europe. For Russia and U.K. and for further details please read about SHIPPING OPTIONS HERE.
Are you interested in a serious discount for orders NOV-FEB? Check your options here.
THE PRICES INCLUDE VAT of 15%. For quick conversion you can use 1 CZK = approx. 0.04 EUR
GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
