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Eastern Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius

Phonetic Spelling
fih-soh-KAR-pus op-yoo-lih-FOH-lee-us
Description

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. 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 landscape:
Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
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' Form
    Purple leafed type
  • var. intermedius
    Smaller and more dense, 4' tall.
  • var. nana
'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:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#riparian#wetlands#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#FAC#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#cpp
 
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' Form
    Purple leafed type
  • var. intermedius
    Smaller and more dense, 4' tall.
  • var. nana
'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:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#riparian#wetlands#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#FAC#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#cpp
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Recreational Play Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought