Common Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fih-soh-KAR-pus op-yoo-lih-FOH-lee-us
- Description
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This plant will do well in full sun, but appreciates some shade in its southernmost locations. If needed, prune just after blooming, but no later than mid-August. Keep in mind that next year's flowers will appear on old growth. It can be cut to the ground in the winter to rejuvenate. It may be found growing on rocky hillsides and banks of streams as well as in moist thickets.
Its exfoliating bark is at its best in the winter when foliage does not cover it. The common name comes from the layers of bark, said to be 9 layers.
It is easy to transplant.
Cultivars of the purple-leafed type appear to lose the intensity of the purple when exposed to sunlight for longer periods of the day.
Habitat: Var. intermedius: limestone river bluffs, mesic hammocks, streambanks; rock outcrops; var. opulifolius: Stream banks, riverside thickets and scour prairies, rock outcrops, cliffs, fens, seepage swamps, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Small Water Features Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Amber Jubilee'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Burgundy Candy"
Purple leafed type - 'Caramel Candy'
Purple leafed type - 'Center Glow'
Purple leafed type - 'Coppertina'
Purple leafed type - 'Dart's Gold'
Dwarf yellow foliage form. - 'Diablo'
Purple leaves with pink-tinged white flowers - 'Lady in Red'
Purple leafed type - 'Lemon Candy'
Chartreuse leaves 2-2 1/2' tall, 2-3' wide. - 'Luteus'
8-10' tall, leaves initially yellow then change to yellowish-green or light green. - 'Monlo' = 'Diablo' = 'Purple Ninebark'
The leaves emerge a deep purple. - 'Nanus'
Similar to var. intermedius, but smaller 2' tall and wider. - 'Nugget'
More dense than 'Dart's Gold', 6' tall and wide. - 'Snowfall'
Green-leaved form, dense habit, 7'
'Summer Wine'
- var. intermedius
Smaller and more dense, 4' tall. - var. nana
Purple leafed type - 'Amber Jubilee'
- 'Amber Jubilee', 'Aurea', 'Burgundy Candy", 'Caramel Candy', 'Center Glow', 'Coppertina', 'Dart's Gold', 'Diablo', 'Lady in Red', 'Lemon Candy', 'Luteus', 'Monlo' = 'Diablo' = 'Purple Ninebark', 'Nanus', 'Nugget', 'Snowfall', 'Summer Wine', var. intermedius, var. nana
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Amber Jubilee'
- 'Aurea'
- 'Burgundy Candy"
Purple leafed type - 'Caramel Candy'
Purple leafed type - 'Center Glow'
Purple leafed type - 'Coppertina'
Purple leafed type - 'Dart's Gold'
Dwarf yellow foliage form. - 'Diablo'
Purple leaves with pink-tinged white flowers - 'Lady in Red'
Purple leafed type - 'Lemon Candy'
Chartreuse leaves 2-2 1/2' tall, 2-3' wide. - 'Luteus'
8-10' tall, leaves initially yellow then change to yellowish-green or light green. - 'Monlo' = 'Diablo' = 'Purple Ninebark'
The leaves emerge a deep purple. - 'Nanus'
Similar to var. intermedius, but smaller 2' tall and wider. - 'Nugget'
More dense than 'Dart's Gold', 6' tall and wide. - 'Snowfall'
Green-leaved form, dense habit, 7'
'Summer Wine'
- var. intermedius
Smaller and more dense, 4' tall. - var. nana
Purple leafed type - 'Amber Jubilee'
- 'Amber Jubilee', 'Aurea', 'Burgundy Candy", 'Caramel Candy', 'Center Glow', 'Coppertina', 'Dart's Gold', 'Diablo', 'Lady in Red', 'Lemon Candy', 'Luteus', 'Monlo' = 'Diablo' = 'Purple Ninebark', 'Nanus', 'Nugget', 'Snowfall', 'Summer Wine', var. intermedius, var. nana
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Physocarpus
- Species:
- opulifolius
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds and bees
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Drooping clusters (seed capsules), round in shape display from July to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of white-pinkish flowers from May to July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-5 lobed leaves
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Mature branches experience exfoliation. Strips of bark will peel to reveal layers of reddish-brown inner bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
