Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) is a fantastic native shrub gaining popularity in gardens across the country. With its hardy nature, colorful flowers, and wildlife benefits, it’s easy to see why more and more people want northern bush honeysuckle for sale.
If you’re looking to add this native beauty to your outdoor space, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s what you need to know about buying northern bush honeysuckle:
An Overview of Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Northern bush honeysuckle is a dense, low-growing deciduous shrub native to the northeastern United States. It typically reaches 1-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide
This hardy shrub thrives in zones 3-7. It prefers full sun to partial shade and does well in average, medium to dry soils. Northern bush honeysuckle is drought tolerant once established.
In early to mid summer, the shrub erupts with showy yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. These flowers mature to a reddish color Dark green foliage provides great summer color before turning brilliant shades of orange and red in fall
Northern bush honeysuckle attracts pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. It also serves as a food source for birds. This shrub is a host plant for some moth species.
With its hardy nature, modest size, and wildlife value, it’s no wonder northern bush honeysuckle is gaining popularity! Let’s look at where to find it for sale.
Where to Buy Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Searching for “northern bush honeysuckle for sale”? Here are some top places to buy this native shrub:
Online Nurseries
Shopping online makes finding specific plants like northern bush honeysuckle easy. Reputable native plant nurseries ship healthy, quality specimens right to your door.
Here are some recommended online sources for northern bush honeysuckle:
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Prairie Nursery – This native plant nursery offers northern bush honeysuckle in one gallon pots. Plants are shipped bare root in spring or fall.
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Prairie Moon Nursery – Another source for one gallon container plants shipped bare root. Volume discounts available.
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Bagley Pond Perennials – Offers northern bush honeysuckle in #1 gallon pots. Only ships within certain northeastern states.
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Stuart’s Nursery – Ships one gallon potted plants in spring and fall across most of the country.
Ordering online is convenient, affordable, and expands your options beyond what local nurseries may carry. Make sure to order early before stock sells out.
Local Nurseries
Beyond online shopping, visit your local independent nurseries to look for northern bush honeysuckle. A good plant nursery will have knowledgeable staff who can guide you.
Call ahead to ask if the nursery carries this native shrub. In spring and fall, selections are often best as new stock arrives.
Look for robust plants with established root systems and branching. Avoid leggy or rootbound specimens. Examine for disease, pests, or other signs of stress.
While selection will vary by region and inventory, some quality local nurseries known for native plants include:
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Twombly Nurseries (MA) – Family-owned nursery near Boston with wide selection of natives.
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Toadshade Wildflower Farm (PA) – Native plant nursery and seed company located in southeast PA.
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Shooting Star Native Plants (MI) – Specialist nursery in Michigan offering northern bush honeysuckle and other native shrubs.
With some research, you can likely find northern bush honeysuckle at a reputable local nursery in your region. This allows hands-on inspection before buying.
Conservation Groups
Some local conservation groups like nature conservancies and land trusts occasionally offer native plant sales. This is an opportunity to find natives like northern bush honeysuckle to support ecological restoration.
Connect with conservation groups in your area to ask about upcoming native plant sales. While selection varies seasonally, you may luck out and find northern bush honeysuckle available locally.
Some conservation organizations to check with include:
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New England Wild Flower Society – Nonprofit native plant society hosting periodic plant sales at Garden in the Woods (MA).
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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – Leading conservation group in PA; sells natives at Fall Native Plant Sale.
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The Nature Conservancy (various locations) – National conservation organization with local chapters, some hold plant sales.
With a bit of research, native plant sales by conservation groups can yield hard-to-find native shrubs like northern bush honeysuckle for a good cause.
What to Look for When Buying
To ensure you get a high quality northern bush honeysuckle for your garden, inspect plants and buy from reputable sources. Here’s what to look for:
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Healthy foliage – Look for robust stems and abundant green leaves without spots, holes, or discoloration. Avoid plants with yellowing leaves.
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Good root establishment – Check that the root system is well developed and covers the pot. Don’t buy rootbound plants.
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Appropriate size – For northern bush honeysuckle, look for plants around 1-2 feet tall in a #1 gallon pot size.
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Productive attributes – Seek out plants described as flowering or fruited varieties. Ask about growth rate.
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Native origin – Purchase northern bush honeysuckle grown from seeds or cuttings sourced from your native region.
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Growing conditions – Ensure the shrub is suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone and environment.
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Local ecotype – For native restorations, choose ecotypes from your county or adjoining counties for best local adaptation.
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Reputation – Buy from reputable native plant nurseries known for quality and proper identification.
With healthy, locally-sourced northern bush honeysuckle suited to your growing conditions, you’ll have success!
How to Plant and Care for Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Once you have your northern bush honeysuckle, it’s time to get it in the ground! Here are some tips for planting and care:
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Select a site with full sun to part shade and well-draining soil. Amend clay or sand soils as needed.
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Dig a hole the depth of the root ball and 2-3 times wider. Set the plant at its original growing depth.
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Backfill with native soil, water thoroughly to settle, and add mulch around the base.
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Water regularly the first two seasons to establish an extensive root system.
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Prune immediately after flowering by removing old wood and trimming to shape.
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Monitor for pests like scale, leaf miners, or spider mites and treat organically as needed.
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Apply slow release granular fertilizer annually in early spring if soils are deficient.
With proper siting, planting, and care your northern bush honeysuckle will thrive and grow vigorously! Be sure to buy from reputable sources.
Enjoy the Benefits of Northern Bush Honeysuckle
With its hardiness, compact size, colorful flowers, and fall foliage, northern bush honeysuckle is a wonderful addition to landscapes and gardens across its native range. This native shrub also supports birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Finding northern bush honeysuckle for sale is now easier than ever through online native plant nurseries, local garden centers, and conservation plant sales. Be sure to inspect plants for health, native origin, and proper identification before purchasing.
With the right planting site and proper care, northern bush honeysuckle will establish quickly and provide lasting beauty and ecosystem benefits. Order your northern bush honeysuckle today and enjoy this gorgeous native shrub for years to come!
Invasive Bush Honeysuckle Truths, Lies, and Alternatives
FAQ
Is northern bush honeysuckle invasive?
Where to plant northern bush honeysuckle?
Does bush honeysuckle spread?
Do deer eat northern bush honeysuckle?
What is northern bush honeysuckle?
Northern bush honeysuckle is a versatile and hardy deciduous shrub that is excellent for relatively dry, semi-shady conditions in regions where summers are relatively cool. It has a variety of uses, ranging from woodland-area groundcover to small hedgerows.
What does a bush honeysuckle look like?
Bush Honeysuckle, Diervilla lonicera, has dense, dark green foliage that turns yellow-orange, then red to purple in the autumn. The color will be more dramatic on plantings that receive more sunlight. Not a true honeysuckle, this small, mound-shaped shrub will …
Is northern bush honeysuckle salt tolerant?
Northern Bush Honeysuckle is known to be fairly salt tolerant. It is often used near parking lots and such, for both its lower height and its ability to tolerate the salty conditions. Our potted shrubs are between 1′ and 2′ high when shipped. The root is well developed and the plants have established branching.
What does a northern bush honeysuckle taste like?
The Northern Bush Honeysuckle is a small, dense, deciduous shrub. The trumpet-like yellow flowers bloom late spring to early summer. Dark green leaves turn yellow then red in the fall. The flower nectar has a sweet honey taste that can be sucked out of the flower.
Is honeysuckle a shrub?
Southern bush honeysuckle (D. sessilifolia) is a 3- to 5-foot shrub native to the Great Smoky Mountains and southern Appalachians. Hardy in zones 4 to 8, it blooms in summer but has rather ordinary fall color. There are several good named cultivars, including ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Cold Splash’.
Do I need fertilization for Northern bush honeysuckle?
For mature northern bush honeysuckle, fertilization isn’t required. If you want to see larger flowers in greater quantity on your shrub, feeding young shrubs can produce better results. Northern bush honeysuckle is generally used in its native species form as a landscape plant. There are no widely available named cultivars to consider.