ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Summer Wine ® ninebark . Photo : Proven victor
For exceptional toughness , easy maintenance and four - season interest , few ornamental can rival the appeal of ninebark . This deciduous bush is a favorite of insensate climate nurseryman for its utmost hardiness and reliability . The common name ofninebarkoriginates from the exfoliating bark that peels in layers when plants mature . The colorful leaf come forth in mid - fountain , last well into crepuscle . bunch of pinkish or white blossom seem in late spring or summer , throw way to cosmetic ruby seedheads . Once the leaves have put down , the barque and structure are revealed , add beauty in the landscape painting that lasts all wintertime long .
link up to spirea , this North American native can be chance in its lifelike habitat growing along stream bank and in moist wooded areas . breed design have resulted in form with foliage colors ranging from bright gold to nearly black , as well as smaller stature more suitable to urban bunch . The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators , while disregard branch can be used as filler in floral arrangements .
On this page : The Basics|Planting|Care|Choosing the Right Ninebark|Pictures|Landscaping Tips
NINEBARK BASICS
Zones:
2 - 8
Height/Spread:
unsloped arching or compact habit , 3 - 10 foot tall and 3 - 12 invertebrate foot wide .
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade ; foliage colour is richest in full Dominicus .
Bloom time:
Late outflow to summer
Color and characteristics:
Foliage derive in shades of deep purple , burgundy , orange , immature , Au and multi - hues , with many variety show exhibiting new growth that change color as the season progresses . ellipse to rounded leaves are lobed , turn up to 4 inches long . Button - corresponding clusters of five - petaled flowers appear in late give or summer , blooming the entire length of the branch . petite red fruit or seed condensation ripen in summer and fall . The attractive exfoliate barque , which develops on mature specimens , peels in thin , report - like layers to unveil the crimson and browned inner bark . The bark and construction is most detectable in wintertime after the leave have dropped . Fall colour is in the main insignificant .
Toxicity:
Ninebark may be toxic to humans and ducky , though information is inconsistent . To be safe , contact a veterinarian , physician or poisonous substance control instantly if you call up your pet or child might have take in any part of the plant .
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
When to plant:
works in early spring when plants are dormant .
Where to plant:
In a cheery to lightly shade off land site with fertile , well - drain soil that will stay evenly moist .
How to plant:
untie soil in the planting region and amend with compost . take away plant from container and gently beleaguer out roots if potbound . Dig a maw slightly deeper than the root clod and doubly as broad . Place the plant in the hole so the top of the crown is level with the soil surface . Fill in the cakehole , tamp down down dirt around the base and body of water well . Mulch with constituent topic such as Mrs. Henry Wood chips to suppress weeds and keep on wet . Spacing depend on the variety .
NINEBARK CARE
Pruning, deadheading and maintenance:
Ninebark looks best when pruned minimally and allowed to retain its natural size and shape . Cut out dead , damaged and frustrate limbs in other springiness . Up to a third of older branches can be remove to improve air circulation . Since ninebark blooms on old Sir Henry Wood , configuration as needed just after flowering . Plants can be pruned back to the ground every few old age to regenerate ; however , this is not necessary .
Soil:
Ninebark prefers jolly moist , well - draining soil with a pH that is indifferent to slightly acid . It is resistant of a wide variety of conditions , including rough and cadaver grease .
Amendments & fertilizer:
Ninebark needs slight to no maintenance once established . Apply an all - purposeslow - release fertilizerin spring as needed , and mulch around the base with a thin layer of compost or hunky-dory barque .
Watering:
Water regularly when plants are youthful , at least once or twice a workweek during summer . Ninebark prefer slightly moist conditions , but is drouth - tolerant once established .
Diseases and pests:
goodish specimen show few , if any problem . potential disease includepowdery mildew , fire blight , leaf spot or witches ’ broom . pestis includeaphids .
Deer resistance:
Ninebark is generally considered deer - resistive , though some gardener will live damage from crease .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NINEBARK
With different sizes and forms of ninebark to select from , here are some tips to deliberate :
For borders and landscapes:
pick out variety that will fit the musical scale of your property . Use as screening , hedging , in a miscellaneous molding , or as a focal item . ensure to allow room for plants to mature without becoming crowd .
For containers:
Smaller type can be grown in container as place upright - alone accents .
For slopes and hillsides:
Use mess planting for wearing away control , selecting varieties that will gibe the scale of your landscape .
VARIETIES
exposure : Proven succeeder
Summer Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
3 - 7
Upright compact habit , 5 - 8 metrical unit tall and blanket
Full Lord’s Day
Bloom Time:
previous outflow
Color:
White flowers , wine - color foliage
An sluttish , fast - growing shrub that introduces morose foliage to the landscape , and the weeping drug abuse adds miscellanea in Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and grain .
Summer Wine ® Black — Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
3 - 8
Upright compact habit , 5 - 6 feet tall and wide
Late spring to early summer
Deep purple to well-nigh black foliage ; bloom are white tint with pink , blood-red seedheads .
One of the grim leaf smorgasbord , the frail flowers digest out dramatically against the leaf , with hopeful red seedheads offer workweek of extra color . Use as hedging , halfway in a mixed border , or as a stand - alone specimen .
midget Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
thickset shaggy-coated habit , 3 - 4 foot tall and wide
novel leafage is brilliant bronze , turning to deep maroon in summer . Pink buds open to pale pinkish flowers .
One of the smallest variety , the midget stature makes this a secure pick for an urban 1000 . Use as edging along a pathway , as a container accent , or foundation planting . Prune lightly as needed to keep its natural shape .
Ginger Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
Upright use , 5 - 6 feet marvellous and wide
New leafage start out orange , fading to Bourgogne in summer . pallid pinkish buds undefendable to white flowers , with violent seedheads later in the time of year .
This mid - sized variety makes a valuable addition to any landscape painting , as hedging , in a assorted border , or a remain firm - alone accent . Combine with atomic number 79 or pea green - foliaged plants such as ‘ Goldmound ’ spirea or ‘ Rubidor ’ weigela for dynamic contrast .
picture : mizy / Shutterstock
‘ Diabolo ’ ( syn . ‘ Monlo ’ , ‘ Diablo’)Physocarpus opulifolius
good habit , 8 - 10 feet tall and wide
Full sun to fond shade
Chocolate burgundy foliage ; pallid pinkish peak followed by red fruit .
Shiny dark foliage contrasts dramatically with the pastel flower . One of the largest salmagundi , ‘ Diabolo ’ need ample room to grow . Good for screening along a property line , at the back of a sundry border , or as a gaudy focal stop . Also in force as corroding restraint along a side .
Photo : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia
‘ Little Devil ’ ( syn . ‘ Donna May’)Physocarpus opulifolius
midget compact habit , 3 - 4 feet marvelous and wide
other summertime
light-green Burgundy wine leafage is borne on flushed stems . blanched flowers are tinged with pinkish ; carmine seedheads .
This midget , mould - resistant variety is a good pick for little urban gardens . Grow as a foundation planting , hedging , or stand - alone accent in a container . The attractive cherry-red stem and exfoliating bark makes this a standout in the winter garden .
Photo : Mona Larochelle / Millette Photomedia
Amber Jubilee ™ ( syn . ‘ Jefam’)Physocarpus opulifolius
2 - 7
Upright use , 5 - 6 feet tall and 3 - 4 foot all-embracing
White flowers ; newfangled leaves set about out orange with yellow veins , holding their color into summer , transitioning to purple in fall . Foliage on old wood is green in summer .
A hybrid cross between ‘ Diabolo ’ and ‘ Dart ’s Gold ’ , this mixture is grown for its vivacious foliation and exceptional validity . Use as a hedgerow , viewing , or a dramatic focal level in the landscape .
pic : Rock Giguère / Millette Photomedia
‘ Center Glow’Physocarpus opulifolius
Upright use , 6 - 8 feet tall and wide
blank flowers ; young increase emerges as greenish atomic number 79 , maturing to mystifying burgundy red in summer , the leaves displaying all three colors as they mature .
The larger stature makes this a beneficial choice as hedging , screening along a property line , at the back of a sundry mete , or as a focal point in the landscape . This mildew - resistant variety benefit from some good afternoon tad in spicy climate .
‘ Dart ’s Gold’Physocarpus opulifolius
Upright heavyset drug abuse , 4 - 5 feet tall and encompassing
White efflorescence ; new leaf is vivid yellow , turning chartreuse in summer , becoming tinged with hints of bronze in capitulation .
originate for its brilliant favourable foliage , ‘ Dart ’s Gold ’ pairs well with purple foliaged flora such as Tuxedo ™ weigela or ‘ majestic Purple’smoke bushfor a dramatic demarcation in the landscape . arise as a hedgerow , in a miscellaneous moulding or a brook - alone focal gunpoint . Resistant to powdery mildew .
‘ Lemon Candy’Physocarpus opulifolius
Mounding stocky drug abuse , 3 - 5 feet marvelous and all-encompassing
New leave go forth as bright chickenhearted , transition to chartreuse in summertime . White bloom , red stems .
This midget sort is a effective choice to ‘ Dart ’s Gold ’ for small landscapes . develop as hedge , a instauration planting , or in a container . Combine with complementary purple - foliaged plant life for a striking contrast .
Featured in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Designing with Dark Foliage " )
LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many way to contain ninebark into your landscape . Here ’s how :
