Bloomipedia
Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
Photo: Roger Rittmaster via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Northern bush honeysuckle

Diervilla lonicera

Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) is a shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Northern bush honeysuckle is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

25states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
9,331U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Minnesota

Quick look

Diervilla lonicera, commonly referred to as northern bush honeysuckle, low bush honeysuckle, dwarf bush honeysuckle, or yellow-flowered upright honeysuckle, is a deciduous shrub native to the northeastern United States and Canada. Its specific epithet, lonicera refers to its similarity in appearance to the true honeysuckles, genus Lonicera. It attracts bumblebees and is an important source of nectar for them.

  • It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Minnesota and Maine. NatureServe
  • In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.4 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,801 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #68 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,410 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #43 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,677 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MinnesotaNativeJune–July1,801
MaineNativeJune–July1,410

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S1), NC (S2), TN (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Northern bush honeysuckle in 25 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Pine, Pope, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Washington, Winona, Wright.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Northern bush honeysuckle a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.8 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
135
Annual precipitation range
32 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for DILO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Diervilla diervilla.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 450 counties across 21 states; the most are in Michigan (72), Wisconsin (68), Pennsylvania (64).

More from the Caprifoliaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Wild teasel, Twinberry honeysuckle, Common snowberry, Pink honeysuckle, Coral honeysuckle, Twinflower.

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Sources