This mounding to rounded deciduous shrub is native to open woods, lakeshores, streambanks, rock outcroppings, and prairies in central and eastern US from New Brunswick to Ontario, south to Georgia and Arkansas. It is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherries, lady’s mantel and photinia. The plant grows 3-10′ tall and has arching branches with brown bark that turns gray and exfoliates when mature to reveal layers of reddish to light brown inner bark. The ovate to rounded leaves are 1.5-5″ long and have 3-5 lobes with coarsely toothed margins. They are dull green during the growing season and turn yellow in the fall. From late spring to early summer white flowers appear in terminal round to dome-shape clusters, 3/4-2.25″ across. The flowers are 1/4 to 1/2″ across and have 5 round petals, 3-5 yellow-capped pistils, and 30-40 pink-tipped stamens. Drooping clusters of greenish red to red dry1-seeded pods follow in late summer and fall and persist into winter. Many cultivars are available that vary most significantly in plant size and foliage color, including chartreuse and purple. Ninebark’s ability to grow in harsh conditions makes it useful for erosion control but it is also valued for use as a hedge or screen, or in a shrub border where its attractive exfoliating bark adds interest in winter. The genus name, Physocarpus, comes from the Greek words physa meaning bladder and karpos, meaning fruit, referring to the inflated seed pods. The specific epithet, opulifolius, comes from the Latin words opulo, meaning wealth or profusion, and folius, meaning leaves and refers to the resemblance of the leaves to those of Viburnum opulus.
Type: Flowering deciduous shrub
Outstanding Feature: Flowers, exfoliating bark
Form: Rounded to mounding
Growth Rate: Rapid
Bloom: Round to domed clusters of white flowers in late spring to early summer
Size: 3-10′ H x 4-6′ W
Light: Full sun to part shade (afternoon shade in hot summers)
Soil: Average, moist to dry, well drained, slightly acidic; tolerates wide range of soils including wet soil and occasional flooding
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Care: Prune immediately after blooming; may be cut to the ground in winter to rejuvenate
Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but susceptible to leaf spot, powdery mildew and fireblight
Propagation: Root cutting, semi-hardwood cutting, seed; easy to transplant
Outstanding Selections:
CoppertinaTM (coppery-orange spring foliage darkens to burgundy-red in summer)
‘Dart’s Gold’ (dwarf, yellow foliage)
‘Diabolo’ (purple leaves, pink tinged flowers)
Lady in RedTM (3-5’ tall, chestnut-red foliage)
‘Nugget’ (3-6’ tall, yellow to lime green foliage)
Summer WineTM (4-6’ tall, deeply-cut, wine red foliage)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers