I planted a grouping of Kodiak at the end of our driveway because of their cold hardiness, adaptability, and low maintenance needs. What I failed to consider was deer browse susceptibility. Mine was a failed experiment, but yours look great.

Loving those Fresh!! Wish I had seen them before I bought my Kodiak Oranges and Reds.

IMO, the diervillas are not much to look at - a bit of a weedy, nondescript shrub. BUT.... I love them for their easy maintenance, their hardiness in different and difficult spots, for the pollinators, and for the fall colors.

I've got two in my yard, two for my daughter's, and I just bought one on sale just because. I figured I could find a spot for it somewhere!

:)

Dee

Thanks!No deer here so safe with that maackia ....

Thanks Dee! I agree......

They are touted as being deer resistant, but they are not.

Yeah, if you don't control the deer, they'll be a lot of things you'll find disappointing. 😉

I planted this Kodiak 'Jet Black' end of April. A rather small specimen but they were hard to find around here at the time. It's doing well for only a little over 2 months in the ground and experiencing a bad hail storm.

I can't wait to see the yellow flowers! ☺️

My JET BLACK Diervilla is also young....

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People with more of an eye for color blending and contrasting than I, will have Diervilla displayed in a more decorative manner.

And if rabbits do shorten the stems, that will be in keeping with 'growing and care' instructions when you do that for rejuvenation. ;-)

But then a simple winter fence should keep them off the plant if you desire to do so.

jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6b

Your last post just popped up after I posted.

Thanks for the pictures!

Mine as sold on line as a 1 gallon potted shrub.

Well, mine was a gallon pot but it looked like they just shoved a quart sized plant into it. :-))

But that's okay, I got it planted in April and it's grown quite a bit already.

Once the roots get established, it will take off then.

Once our JET BLACKS mature the yellow flowers will really stick out with more blackish leaves... :-)

BELOW is regular Black Diervilla...

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Wow, jim, that's a great picture. You have a way with the camera!

I have a lot of green plants, so I wanted something to contrast that, because I have a hard time keeping flowers and perennials alive in this climate.

After a failed Korean maple tree out front, I realized that would've been too large if it had survived there.

When I was searching for a shrub, I found the jet black, all the specifications lined up closest with what I wanted, even zone 3.

The pollinators will love those trumpet shaped blooms! ☺️

And like you say, yellow against the black should 'pop'.

Not sure about your colder climate but here once the flowers get spent I trim the bush back alittle & get a new wave of yellow flowers ....

Mine just started blooming here in June but I cut it back in the spring to like 18 inches & take out the skinny canes etc.

I planted my bushes 3 years ago....The regular Black was getting huge by the second season...

And oh yes bees love them here!

I like the 'Huge' part. I need it be around 4 ft. tall and 4 feet wide (maybe next year). 😄

I planted my Jet Black last year mid June... It was a true quart size...

Here it is today...Will post a pic for you at the end of the season....

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Thanks! I just noticed 'First Flowers' this morning. Yay!!

:-)

AWESOME!

JET BLACK

BLACK with Bumble...Lots of bumbles & other bees but they move so fast hard to get a clear pic...