Collection of Diervilla with contrasting foliage

This collection of Diervillas with contrasting foliage, composed of the varieties 'Honeybee', 'Kodiak Red', and 'Kodiak Black', offers a unique colour palette, from bright yellow to almost black purple, combined with attractive and nectar-rich summer flowering and autumnal reddish colours. Suitable for a wide range of soils, including occasionally dry in summer, these small bushes adapt well to both sun and partial shade and can withstand cold temperatures down to -20°C. Theya are versatile and can be planted on the edge of woodlands, in the roots of large trees, or in a sunny flower bed or large border. Finally, Diervilla is ideal for steep terrain: it retains and stabilises slopes thanks to its suckers (underground stems carrying roots).

It consists of:

1 Diervilla rivularis 'Honeybee': it stands out with its foliage that is more or less golden throughout the year, turning orange in autumn. Its small yellow flowers grouped in clusters attract pollinators from June to July. The bush reaches a height of 80 cm and a width of 1 m.

1 Diervilla x splendens 'Kodiak Red': its unique foliage, tinged with red in spring and becoming green, bordered with reddish purple in summer, takes on beautiful scarlet shades in autumn. Its long summer flowering with small sulfur yellow flowers contrasts nicely with the colourful foliage. This variety reaches 1.20 m in all directions.

1 Diervilla x splendens 'Kodiak Black': this bush, reaching 1.20 m in all directions, has surprising dark purple to black foliage, offering a superb contrast with its yellow flowers throughout the summer. The colouration of its foliage is more intense under brighter exposure.

Diervillas are best planted in spring or autumn and can be used in flower beds, large borders, and even in pots to enhance terraces and balconies. Allow a space of 60 to 80 cm between each plant to allow for optimal development. In flower beds, arrange the varieties according to their height, with the two tallest varieties in the background to create a beautiful visual harmony. These bushes require little maintenance once established and adapt to a wide range of soils, as long as they are not excessively chalky or too dry in summer.

For a contrasting effect, associate the Diervillas from this collection with three plants of Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', these grasses will provide a graphic background behind the Diervillas. The small weigelas for pots are perfect companions for these small bushes, as are Physocarpus 'Magic Ball' or 'Lady in Red' with their remarkably coloured foliage. At the front of your border or flower bed, plant a few Nepeta 'Purrsian Blue', their abundant mauve flowering will perfectly highlight the colourful foliage of the bushes.