Every garden needs its share of pollinator plants that you needn't lift so much as a finger to enjoy at their best, and Kodiak Red diervilla is one such plant. This North American native boasts neatly arranged leaves, each one directly opposite its neighbor, and a constant smattering of cute yellow flowers in summer. They attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the leaves host hummingbird moth caterpillars. New growth emerges with a flush of red, and come autumn, the whole plant goes a brilliant purple-red that is the perfect send-off to the season.
All of the Kodiak diervillas are perfect for a variety of landscaping applications, from hedges to backdrops to specimens - they can even be intermixed among your pollinator perennials!
Vital details:
Plant size: 3-4' tall and wide
Light: full sun (6+ hrs/day), part sun. Grows in a good amount of shade, but not as colorful, and flowering is diminished.
Water: Average moisture
Hardiness: USDA zone 4-7 (Find your hardiness zone)
Pollinator value: flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators; foliage hosts hummingbird moth caterpillars.
Notable features: drought tolerant, long blooming, native.
Care notes: Overall, this durable plant needs little pruning, but can be trimmed as needed. Major pruning is best done in spring. We have found that deer may eat this plant but rarely cause any significant or disfiguring damage, and it always seems to rebound quickly.
Pot size: one quart
Plant name: Diervilla 'G2X885411' pp#28,403, cbr#6302