Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Grown as much for its foliage color as its flowers, and that color only holds where the sun actually reaches it.
Light Full sun to partial shade, though the leaf color only holds in sun.
Water Moderate; copes with dry spells once established.
Height 2.5 m
Spread 6 ft 7 in
Spacing 200 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 6 ft 7 in
- In-row spacing
- 6 ft 7 in
- Between rows
- 8 ft 2 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Shrub · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, though the leaf color only holds in sun.
- Watering
- Moderate; copes with dry spells once established.
- Feeding
- A light feed each spring.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- June
- Pruning
- A renewal prune once a year, straight after flowering.
- Overwintering
- Fully hardy; no winter protection needed.
Through the year
- Mar–Apr Bud Break
- Apr–Jun Spring Growth
- Jun–Aug Flowering
- Aug–Nov Growing
- Nov–Dec Leaf Fall
- Jan–Mar Leaf Fall
Pests & problems
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com