Kodiak Jet Black™ Diervilla
Shrub
- Striking black foliage all season- no fading!
- Bright yellow flowers attract pollinators summer through fall.
- Native shrub adapts to a wide range soils.
- Zones 3-8, sun/part sun, up to 3-4′ tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Naturally growing with a nice rounded shape, diervilla is ideal for low-maintenance hedges, landscaping, and native plant gardens. This shrub thrives and attracts pollinators no matter the light level. It grows well in sun, partial sun, and shade environments. While sometimes called bush honeysuckle, this diervilla is not invasive.
Details
Patent #: PPAF; CBRAF
Common name: Diervilla, bush honeysuckle
Zone: 3 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 3-4' tall x wide
Flower color: Yellow
Foliage color: Green to red/orange
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rare & unusual, Proven Winners, native, fall color, drought tolerant, cold tolerant, pollinator-friendly
Uses: Accent, background, container gardening, foundation planting, hedge plant, ornamental, rock garden, small spaces
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) is best; part shade (4-6 hrs/day) is okay, especially in warmer areas.
Water: Average
Space: Min. 3' apart
Fertilizing: Little fertilizer is needed.
Winterizing: No special treatment is required; 2-3" of mulch is recommended.
Maintenance & Pruning: Blooms on old wood, which means that any pruning should be done after bloom. May be trimmed after flowering if desired.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
My little Kodiak Jet Black™ Diervilla came fairly quickly, and was well packed with no damage. After an acclimation, I planted it as directed. In two weeks or so, new leaf buds appeared, and now (early July) those new leaves are grown (planted late May). The little shrub looks good, and I am pretty sure it has established itself. Hopefully, it will maintain and grow.
I bought 3 in September 2025. All arrived healthy and GGP sent an extended warranty leaflet since I was buying them late in the season. Upon planting, 2 were eaten nearly to the ground by either deer or groundhogs and we thought they wouldn’t survive. We also didn’t protect them from snowfall and they were under feet of snow. All three survived the winter and are looking excellent and healthy with Lots of new growth now in June 2026.
Was interested in a shrub with darker foliage and this fit the bill. I didn't order it until later in the season, and it was a quart size at that. The order arrived on time, and was pretty much in its present condition. I'm hoping this coming growing season to see more growth. I put it in a container to overwinter.
Today I recieved my Kodiak Jet Black shrub. The plant was healthy and the soil was moist. I was very pleased.
IF you have the time to grow, this is an amazing plant. Requires little, gives a lot. Quite sun and drought hardy. And it will sucker, which can be great if you’d like a hedge. As usual, these shipped plants are teeny tiny. I had anticipated them being larger at this time in the year. Healthy, yes. Shipped well, yes. Teeny tiny, yes. And yes I know there is a canned response that tells me to expect small. But still, these are teeny tiny. They will grow. Will I live long enough? And will they have some presentation before my benefit garden walk??? ?????
I love how these blend in with all the green plants!!! They came healthy and are doing great!!! Can’t wait until they fill out a little more!!!
Arrived in good condition and healthy.
Fantastic packaging. Two in one long box with a corrugated diver in between the plants. This prevented damage to plants even with delivery crushing a corner of the box.
Dirt and pot wrapped in plastic to keep dirt in and plant damp. Not one leaf was broken or damaged. Both are healthy specimens.
Arrived 24 hours after placing my order, can’t ask for more than that.
Great GARDEN Plants is my go to online plant source.
10 of 10
I purchased this Diervilla for a difficult spot in my yard. The plant arrived well packed and healthy. It has adapted well and is settling in nicely. I’m very happy, and will continue to order from Great Garden Plants.
Kodiak Jet Black™ Diervilla
Is this plant deer and rabbit resistant?
Diervilla is generally deer resistant and rabbit resistant.
Does it discourage deer from eating it?
Diervilla is generally deer resistant! Feel free to browse our entire collection of deer resistant plants here: https://www.greatgardenplants.com/collections/deer-resistant
Does the black foliage keep year round?
Kodiak® Black Diervilla is a deciduous shrub, which means it will lose its leaves in the winter. However, the foliage is a rich dark purple-black throughout the growing season, from spring until fall, before the leaves drop.
Since this is called “bush honeysuckle” are the yellow flowers fragrant like honeysuckle?
A common name for diervilla, bush honeysuckle refers to the appearance of the flowers, which resemble those of plants in the genus Lonicera. The vibrant yellow flowers bloom from summer through fall and attract pollinators like native honeybees!
Is this bush deer resistant? Thanks. 😊
Hello! Diervilla is generally deer resistant! Feel free to browse our entire collection of deer resistant plants here: https://www.greatgardenplants.com/collections/deer-resistant