ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Summer Wine ® ninebark . photograph : Proven winner
For exceptional toughness , easy sustenance and four - time of year interest , few ornamental can rival the appealingness of ninebark . This deciduous shrub is a favorite of stale climate gardeners for its uttermost hardiness and reliability . The coarse name ofninebarkoriginates from the exfoliating barque that strip in level when plants mature . The colored foliage emerges in mid - spring , endure well into fall . clustering of pink or white flowers seem in late spring or summertime , giving way to cosmetic crimson seedheads . Once the leave of absence have dropped , the bark and structure are unwrap , contribute peach in the landscape that lasts all winter long .
Related to spiraea , this North American native can be find in its natural habitat growing along stream bank and in moist wooded areas . Breeding innovation have resulted in variety with foliage gloss rove from undimmed Au to nigh black , as well as small stature more suited to urban peck . The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators , while cut branches 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:
good arching or compact habit , 3 - 10 feet marvelous and 3 - 12 feet encompassing .
Exposure:
Full sun to fond shade ; leaf color is richest in full sun .
Bloom time:
Late spring to summer
Color and characteristics:
Foliage comes in shades of bass purple , Bourgogne , orange , fleeceable , gold and multi - hues , with many varieties show new development that change color as the time of year get on . ellipse to rounded leafage are lob , growing up to 4 inches long . clitoris - alike bunch of five - petaled flowers come along in late saltation or summertime , blooming the total length of the branches . Tiny red fruit or ejaculate space capsule ripen in summer and declension . The attractive exfoliate barque , which develops on mature specimens , peels in slight , newspaper publisher - same stratum to divulge the red and brown inner bark . The bark and structure is most detectable in winter after the leaves have dropped . decline colouring material is broadly insignificant .
Toxicity:
Ninebark may be toxic to homo and pets , though information is inconsistent . To be good , adjoin a veterinary , physician or toxicant ascendancy forthwith if you think your pet or kid might have ingested any part of the plant .
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
When to plant:
Plant in early fountain when plants are dormant .
Where to plant:
In a cheery to lightly shadow site with fertile , well - drain ground that will stay evenly moist .
How to plant:
loose grease in the planting area and amend with compost . Remove flora from container and lightly tease out roots if potbound . Dig a muddle slightly deep than the stem clod and twice as wide . pose the plant in the hole so the top of the treetop is story with the soil surface . Fill in the trap , pack down soil around the al-Qa’ida and water well . Mulch with constitutional matter such as wood chips to bottle up green goddess and retain wet . Spacing depends on the variety .
NINEBARK CARE
Pruning, deadheading and maintenance:
Ninebark looks best when pruned minimally and allowed to retain its natural size and form . shorten out dead , damaged and cross limb in former leap . Up to a third of older branches can be removed to improve atmosphere circulation . Since ninebark blooms on quondam woodwind instrument , form as needed just after flowering . Plants can be rationalise back to the ground every few age to rejuvenate ; however , this is not necessary .
Soil:
Ninebark prefers moderately moist , well - draining soil with a pH that is impersonal to more or less acidulent . It is tolerant of a wide variety of condition , including bouldered and clay soils .
Amendments & fertilizer:
Ninebark needs piddling to no maintenance once constitute . Apply an all - purposeslow - release fertilizerin spring as need , and mulch around the basis with a slight layer of compost or fine barque .
Watering:
Water regularly when plants are young , at least once or twice a week during summer . Ninebark prefers moderately moist conditions , but is drought - tolerant once demonstrate .
Diseases and pests:
Healthy specimens show few , if any problems . Possible disease includepowdery mildew , fire blight , leaf spot or hag ’ broom . Pests includeaphids .
Deer resistance:
Ninebark is broadly speaking considered deer - resistive , though some nurseryman will know damage from crop .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NINEBARK
With unlike sizes and physical body of ninebark to choose from , here are some tips to study :
For borders and landscapes:
opt mixture that will gibe the scale of your property . Use as screening , hedging , in a motley mete , or as a focal point . Make certain to take into account room for plants to mature without becoming crowd .
For containers:
Smaller eccentric can be grown in container as stand - alone accents .
For slopes and hillsides:
apply mass planting for wearing away command , selecting salmagundi that will fit the scale of your landscape .
VARIETIES
Photo : Proven Winners
Summer Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
3 - 7
erect compact habit , 5 - 8 substructure magniloquent and spacious
Full sun
Bloom Time:
Late spring
Color:
ashen flowers , wine-coloured - colored foliage
An easy , fast - growing bush that introduces sullen foliage to the landscape painting , and the weeping habit add variety in flesh and texture .
Summer Wine ® Negro — Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
3 - 8
Upright compact substance abuse , 5 - 6 feet tall and all-encompassing
Late spring to early summer
recondite purple to nearly black foliation ; flowers are white tinged with pink , red seedheads .
One of the darkest leafed variety , the delicate flowers fend out dramatically against the foliation , with bright crimson seedheads provide week of additional colouration . Use as hedging , halfway in a mixed edge , or as a stomach - alone specimen .
flyspeck Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
Compact bushy riding habit , 3 - 4 feet tall and wide
New leaf is brilliant bronze , turning to deep maroon in summertime . Pink bud open to pale pink flowers .
One of the smallest varieties , the diminutive stature make this a good option for an urban yard . Use as edge along a pathway , as a container accent , or foundation planting . Prune gently as needed to keep on its natural condition .
Ginger Wine ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersPhysocarpus opulifolius
just use , 5 - 6 feet magniloquent and wide
Modern foliage starts out orange , languish to burgundy in summer . Pale pinkish buds exposed to white flowers , with violent seedheads later on in the time of year .
This mid - sized variety makes a worthful plus to any landscape , as hedging , in a mixed border , or a stick out - alone accent . Combine with gold or chartreuse - foliaged plants such as ‘ Goldmound ’ spirea or ‘ Rubidor ’ weigela for dynamic dividing line .
Photo : mizy / Shutterstock
‘ Diabolo ’ ( syn . ‘ Monlo ’ , ‘ Diablo’)Physocarpus opulifolius
Upright habit , 8 - 10 foot tall and wide
Full sun to fond spook
Chocolate burgundy foliage ; pallid pinkish flowers followed by crimson fruit .
Shiny glowering foliage contrasts dramatically with the pastel flowers . One of the largest varieties , ‘ Diabolo ’ needs ample way to grow . practiced for screening along a property line , at the back of a mixed mete , or as a showy focal point . Also good as erosion ascendancy along a slope .
pic : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia
‘ Little Devil ’ ( syn . ‘ Donna May’)Physocarpus opulifolius
nanus compact use , 3 - 4 feet tall and wide
former summertime
Greenish Burgundy wine foliage is borne on red stems . snowy flowers are colour with pink ; crimson seedheads .
This petite , mould - repellent mixture is a good choice for little urban garden . Grow as a foundation planting , hedging , or stand - alone accent in a container . The attractive red radical and exfoliating bark cause this a standout in the winter garden .
picture : Mona Larochelle / Millette Photomedia
Amber Jubilee ™ ( syn . ‘ Jefam’)Physocarpus opulifolius
2 - 7
Upright habit , 5 - 6 foot tall and 3 - 4 foot wide
white-hot flowers ; new farewell start out orange with yellow vein , hold their color into summer , transitioning to purple in fall . leafage on old forest is green in summertime .
A intercrossed cross between ‘ Diabolo ’ and ‘ Dart ’s Gold ’ , this variety is grow for its vivacious leaf and especial hardiness . Use as a hedge , screening , or a striking focal point in the landscape painting .
Photo : Rock Giguère / Millette Photomedia
‘ Center Glow’Physocarpus opulifolius
erect riding habit , 6 - 8 foot tall and wide
White blossom ; new growth emerges as greenish gold , maturing to deep burgundy red in summertime , the leaves displaying all three colors as they mature .
The prominent stature do this a good pick as hedge , screening along a property line , at the back of a mixed border , or as a focal point in the landscape . This mildew - resistant variety benefits from some afternoon shade in hotter climates .
‘ Dart ’s Gold’Physocarpus opulifolius
Upright succinct habit , 4 - 5 feet tall and all-embracing
White flowers ; unexampled foliage is bright yellow , turning yellow green in summer , becoming tinct with hints of bronze in fall .
Grown for its bright golden foliation , ‘ Dart ’s Gold ’ copulate well with violet foliaged works such as Tuxedo ™ weigela or ‘ majestic Purple’smoke bushfor a dramatic contrast in the landscape painting . arise as a hedge , in a assorted border or a stand - alone focal item . Resistant to powdery mould .
‘ Lemon Candy’Physocarpus opulifolius
Mounding compact riding habit , 3 - 5 feet tall and extensive
unexampled leave emerge as shiny lily-livered , transitioning to chartreuse in summer . White flowers , cherry stems .
This dwarf multifariousness is a good alternative to ‘ Dart ’s amber ’ for little landscapes . Grow as hedging , a foundation planting , or in a container . Combine with completing purple - foliaged plant for a striking direct contrast .
Featured in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Designing with Dark Foliage " )
LANDSCAPING TIPS
There are many ways to contain ninebark into your landscape . Here ’s how :
