At Thoms Bros, one of our preferred herbaceous vendors is Hortech out of West Michigan. Hortech has 100 seasonal and non-seasonal associates utilizing approximately 60 acres. They are committed to providing superior plants and service and are dedicated to the development of the very best, most beautiful, most utilitarian Grown Earth Friendly® plants in the green industry.
This year, Hortech has expanded their lineup with 8 new varieties of Hortech Original Diervilla for 2024, their Research and Development department has been hard at work to carefully select the top performers in color and habit. Keeping with their commitment of ‘Grown Earth Friendly™’, their line of Mountaineer® Diervilla consists of native hybrids, beneficial to our birds, insects, and North American landscape!
Their line of unique Diervilla were selected from crosses between two native species of bush honeysuckle; D. sessiliflora, southern bush honeysuckle and D. lonicera, northern bush honeysuckle. The cross results in D. x splendens, splendid bush honeysuckle- a shrubby intermediate height native that is a fantastic substitute for introduced species like Spirea and Weigela.
In order to be selected for our Mountaineer® series these fresh new native hybrids needed to exhibit interesting colors, compactness, and self-branching habits, we have selected a diverse lineup- ranging from shades of bright neon chartreuse, rich shades of red and orange, deep intense purple, and lush crisp green.
Lastly, their Hortech Original Mountaineer® Diervilla needed to fit into our (not always so native-friendly) landscapes, so we’ve carefully curated their collection to select the cultivars with tight, shrub-like habits and intermediate height, making these versatile, salt tolerant sub-shrubs ideal for soil stabilization, natural hedges, and specimen plantings.
Diervilla is a little-known and underused ornamental plant that deserves more attention from home gardeners. This deciduous shrub produces attractive lance-shaped leaves, clusters of tubular flowers in summer, and brilliant fall color. Native to eastern North America, Diervilla can be found growing along stream banks, rocky slopes, and in open woodlands. The common name of bush honeysuckle refers to the slender flowers which resemble true honeysuckle in the genus Lonicera.
Following is the list of the Mountaineer® series:
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Wasabi
Mountaineer® Wasabi had proven to be strong, hardy, well-behaved and colorful. The original plant has never been sheared and it remains tightly branched and attractive. Wasabi features chartreuse-green foliage from spring to late summer, then becomes infused with orange and red during fall. It blooms early to midsummer with yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and grows well in sun or shade. Wasabi can substituted for golden Spirea or privet, and looks natural in our North American landscapes. It can be used as a hedge, specimen, soil stabilizer or bank cover and grows well in any well-drained soil.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Golden Boy (`Nonyobn’)
It’s hard to describe the depth of golden tones that infuse and underlie the foliage of this spectacular Diervilla; It is deeply infused and glistening at once and intriguing in the complexity of its coloration. A native hybrid, Golden Boy blooms early to mid-summer with yellow trumpets, and can brighten shady areas and create highlights in the sun when paired with darker foliaged Diervilla or complimentary shrubs and perennials.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Calico Red (`Nondero’)
Mountaineer® Calico Red displays the most amazing red-tipped, chartreuse foliage. Truly two-tone, this hardy, colorful Hortech Original Nativar is a lovely substitute for mid-sized shrubby exotics such as Spirea and Weigela. A quick maturing plant, it brings color from spring to fall and nice texture in winter, and during early to mid summer, it blooms with yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. For use in sun or shade, Calico Red looks natural in our North American landscape and can be used as a hedge, specimen, soil stabilizer, or bank cover and grows well in any well drained soil.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Balsamic (`Noncima’)
A Nativar selected for stable color, hardiness and rapid maturation, Mountaineer® Balsamic quickly matures into a well branched, shubby, beautifully colored, utilitarian plant. Like other Diervilla, its deciduous foliage unfurls very early in spring and in this case is colored a deep rich-amber (like a balsamic reduction) from spring through summer, then further darkens in fall. During late June to mid-July its branches are tipped with clusters of tubular yellow flowers which contrast nicely with the foliage and support birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. The uses for Mountaineer® Balsamic revolve around creating a natural look, soil stabilization (even sandy soil) and even understory planting. It tends to be well behaved and therefore can be used as a winding, natural looking hedge or can be used in place of introduced species such as Spirea or Weigela for a more “North American” look. Mountaineer® Balsamic grows well in sun, and is excellent in light to moderate shade.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Keylime (`Noniba’)
Mountaineer® Keylime has been rock-solid for color, health, habit and hardiness. Like our other Diervilla selections, it is tightly branched for low maintenance and never requires shearing. From spring to late summer, its handsome foliage is keylime-green until fall when it becomes infused with hues of purple. Flowering occurs early to midsummer with yellow trumpets borne at the branch tips. These attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds and contrast nicely with the foliage. Effective uses include ground covering, dwarf hedging, soil stabilizing, and and any type of planting that you would typically do with a dwarf shrub. Because it will grow in sun or shade, its companions are numerous.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Sunshine (`Nonenih’)
Very bright yellow is how one would describe this foliage of this lovely little Diervilla. And, it’s a clear yellow, which makes it a great pair for other plants with clear coloration- A native hybrid, Sunshine blooms early to mid-summer with yellow trumpets, and can be used to brighten shady areas and create highlights in sunny areas when paired with darker foliaged plants. NOTE: all yellow leaved Diervilla, at least to date, seem to get a little leaf scald during summer when grown in full sun. This has only been noticeable when viewed close up.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Merlot (`Nontolre’)
Another Hortech Original Nativar, Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® bears light reflective, deep, clear merlot-red foliage borne on deep purple upright stems. This is an eye-catching plant that is uniquely colorful. Like the others in this collection, Merlot subs for Spirea or Weigela, and blooms with yellow trumpets during early to mid-summer and works nicely as a hedge, specimen, soil stabilizer, or bank cover. merlot grows well in any well drained soil and pairs nicely with numerous companions.
Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Calico Orange (`Nonegna’)
A Hortech Original Nativar, Diervilla x splendens Mountaineer® Calico Orange displays lovely orange-tipped yellow foliage and is an excellent substitute for Spirea or Weigela, Calico Orange boasts decorative foliage from spring to fall and great texture during winter, and during early to mid-summer it bears yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. Calico Orange is uniquely colored, American in origin, and useful as a hedge, specimen, soil stabilizer, or bank cover and grows well in any well drained soil.
