FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla
Diervilla splendens 'El Madrigal'
Height: 3 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Other Names: Bush Honeysuckle
Group/Class: Firefly Series
Brand: Bloomin' Easy
Description:
This smaller shrub features attractive sulfur yellow flower clusters in early summer, contrasting the dark reddish-purple foliage that turns a more vivid red in fall; a drought and shade tolerant plant that is great for challenging sites
Ornamental Features
FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla features showy clusters of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early summer. It has attractive red-variegated deep purple foliage with hints of coppery-bronze which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall.
Landscape Attributes
FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.
FireFly Nightglow™ Diervilla makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.