Diervilla - Firefly™ Nightglow™ #2

Firefly™ Nightglow™ Diervilla - Diervilla splendens 'El Madrigal'

Height:  3 feet - Spread:  3 feet - Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade  Hardiness Zone:  4a

Description:This smaller shrub features attractive sulfur yellow flower clusters in early summer, contrasting the dark reddish-purple foliage that turns a more vivid red in fall; a drought and shade tolerant plant that is great for challenging sites

Ornamental Features: Firefly™ Nightglow™ Diervilla features showy clusters of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early summer. It has attractive red-variegated deciduous deep purple foliage with hints of coppery-bronze which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes - Firefly™ Nightglow™ Diervilla is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Suckering

Firefly™ Nightglow™ Diervilla will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Firefly™ Nightglow™ Diervilla makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container.