Nine Bark Physocarpus opulifolius

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Nine Bark:

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Summer Wine'

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. 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:

'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'

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 #rain garden #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 #hs303

Flowers and leaves Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Close up of flower Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Form of 'Diablo' F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0

'Diablo' flower F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo' — 'Diablo' Bloom and leaf detail Debbie Roos

'Dart's Gold' leaves Peter Stevens CC BY 2.0

'Aurea' Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Aurea' Leaf Detail Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Aurea' Flower and Leaf Detail Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Physocarpus opulifolius — 'Coppertina' Leaf and Fruit Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0