Physocarpus Opulifolius in the Landscape
Karen Panter, University of Wyoming
Scientfic Name: Physocarpus opulifoliusCommon Name: Common Ninebark
Description: Ninebarks are relatively large shrubs with dense branching habits. The bark is unique in that it exfoliates leaving behind chocolate-colored inner bark underneath.
Native Habitat: Common ninebark is native to the eastern sections of North America, as far west as Colorado.
Cultural Requirement
Soil: Adapted to a wide range of soil types. Soil should be well-drained.
Moisture Tolerance: Moderate to regular water.
Sun/Shade/Preference: Full sun to part shade.
Transplanting: Easy.
Propagation: Propagating from seeds is common and no treatments are necessary. Softwood cuttings taken in summer root well at 60F in a sand/peat medium. No rooting hormones are needed.
Maintenance (pruning, fertilization, deadheading, division, irrigation, etc): Remove dead stems in spring. Pruning older stems to the ground will help rejuvenate mature plants. Moderate fertilization and irrigation are suggested.
Insect, disease, or other problems: Late season powdery mildew can occur; treatments generally not needed. Otherwise, none of major importance.
Landscape Value
Use in the Landscape: Very unique plants with dense foliage. Best massed together for full effect for a screen or border.
Weediness/Invasive Potential: None of concern.
Foliage: Alternate leaves, usually with 3 to 5 lobes. Not used for fall color.
Flower: Small and white or pinkish, in clusters, attractive to pollinators.
Timing: May, June
Fruit: Reddish follicles in September, October. Seeds are eaten by many bird species.
Form: Some consider these shrubs shaggy in appearance.
Texture: Medium to coarse.
Ultimate Size: Up to 10 feet tall with equal spread.
Rate of Growth: Medium to fast.
Suggested Plant Partners: Coarse texture, especially in winter, may make them difficult to use in some landscapes. Mix with softer textured evergreens.
Availability: Readily available from most larger nurseries, usually in containers, sometimes balled-and-burlapped.
Cultivars: Several cultivars of are available including ‘Diabolo’ with dark red/maroon foliage and ‘Center Glow’ with gold new foliage, later turning red/burgundy.
References:
Dirr, M.A. 1998. Manual of woody landscape plants. Stipes Publishing Company, Champaign, Illinois.
Dorn, R.D. 1992. Vascular plants of Wyoming. 2nd edition. Mountain West Publishing, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kester, F.T. Davies Jr., and R.L. Geneve. 2011. Hartmann and Kester’s plant propagation. 8th edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Sunset Western Garden Book. 2001. Sunset Publishing Corporation, Menlo Park, California.
USDA-NRCS Plants Database. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/. Accessed 18 October 2019.