Diervilla rivularis 'Ru-Bee Wren' (Mountain Bush Honeysuckle) Unity Grown

'Ru-Bee Wren' is a striking red cultivar of Diervilla rivularis, also called mountain bush honeysuckle, a dense, spreading shrub native to several states in the mid southeast. The 'Ru-Bee Wren' cultivar is especially noted for its stunning crimson-red new-growth foliage.  Leaves eventually mature to dark green, but new growth remains active and colorful through much of the spring and summer. In mid-summer, Diervilla rivularis 'Ru-Bee Wren' produces profuse, bright yellow, nectar-rich flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. In the fall, leaves take on a red-purple hue again, and small fruits attract a number of songbird species.

Diervilla rivularis is a highly adaptable shrub for any small garden space or rock garden; growing to 2-3' tall and slightly wider, 'Ru-Bee Wren' tolerates poor and rocky soils, and is resistant to deer damage. Though this bush honeysuckle requires medium-dry, well-drained soils, it is not at all picky about light level or soil consistency, and grows great anywhere with full sun or part shade. Note: Although Diervilla rivularis is referred to as bush honeysuckle, it is a North American native species, and shouldn't be confused with Japanese bush honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, which is considered invasive in many areas of the US.