# northern bush honeysuckle (*Diervilla lonicera*) The northern bush honeysuckle is a cheerful shrub with bright yellow flowers. It grows in many places and is loved by butterflies and bees for its sweet nectar. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Forests ![northern bush honeysuckle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Northern_bush_honeysuckle.jpg&width=800) Photo: US Wildlife and Fish Service, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_bush_honeysuckle.jpg) ## Appearance The northern bush honeysuckle is a medium-sized shrub with opposite, oval leaves and clusters of small, trumpet-shaped flowers. These flowers start yellowish-green, fading to reddish-orange, and develop into slender, elongated seed capsules. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Diervilla ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, this plant is not a true honeysuckle; it belongs to a different family! - Its scientific name, Diervilla, honors a French surgeon and botanist, Dr. Dierville. - Some Indigenous peoples historically used parts of this plant for traditional medicinal purposes. - The tiny seeds within its fruit can remain dormant in the soil for many years before sprouting. ## Special abilities - **Resilient Root System:** Northern bush honeysuckle can thrive in dry conditions thanks to its tough root system, helping it survive harsh summers. - **Color-Shifting Blooms:** This plant has flowers that change color from yellow to reddish as they age, helping to signal to pollinators which flowers offer nectar. - **Birdy Berry Bounty:** Northern bush honeysuckle produces berries that attract birds, which then help disperse its seeds to new locations, aiding reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — American Robins eat its berries, dispersing seeds. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees visit its flowers for nectar, helping with pollination. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — White-tailed deer browse on its leaves and twigs. - **Depends on:** Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (*Hemaris thysbe*) — Its leaves are food for the caterpillars of Hummingbird Clearwing Moths. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch the plants without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify northern bush honeysuckle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is northern bush honeysuckle? 100-200 cm ### How wide does northern bush honeysuckle spread? 100-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on northern bush honeysuckle? 1-2 cm ### When does northern bush honeysuckle bloom? Summer ### Is northern bush honeysuckle edible? No ### Is northern bush honeysuckle toxic? Mild ### What is northern bush honeysuckle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-l-le-saint-quentin) — Quebec, CA · Park - [South Hadley Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-hadley-canal) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site [View all places to see northern bush honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-bush-honeysuckle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Northern Bush Honeysuckle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bush-honeysuckle)