Kodiak Fresh^® Diervilla x

Four of these are finishing their third year in my front garden edging one side of a bed encircling an old Norway Maple--despite the extra steep competition of the non-native tree's close-to-surface roots and a viciously hot and dry Nashville summer, these Diervilla are still stunning. They receive a little late afternoon slanted sun, but rest of day shade, and so while their coloring may be more mellow than if in different conditions, their limey and brassy tones are bold enough to look great shining out along the edge of dense shade. Their full grown form is very attractive: long, almost floppy branches cross and stretch rather horizontally to ca. 3.5' while just reaching just ca. 2.5' tall. They were weaned off of regular watering this year, yet still look great despite the horrible summer conditions and have had fewer but regular flowers all summer, much to the delight of the garden's pollinators (having bought directly, I was enormously pleased Proven Winners' plants were neonic pesticide free). These native crossed cultivars may not be as critter-delighting as their straight species, but are far better than the old, boring imported shrubs, and are so flashy and bright in spring, gorgeously flowering ALL summer, and glowing again in the autumn, and so, so tough--why aren't they in every garden?

I planted these in a shady area that is kind of dark. They showed up and the fall color was great. I only rated as a 4 because the deer in my area did eat them so I had to spray them.