Dart's Gold ninebark

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; morning sun and afternoon shade help prevent leaf scorch in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; water regularly while establishing. Established shrubs tolerate short dry spells but grow best with some moisture.

Soil

Adaptable to clay, loam or sandy soil, from slightly acidic to alkaline; avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m)

Spread

4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; rounded clusters of white to faintly pink flowers, followed by reddish seed capsules.

Foliage

Lobed leaves emerge bright golden yellow, mature to yellow-green or lime green, and often turn yellow in autumn.

Growth

Moderate to fast.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.3 ft (0.71 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (0.93 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; routine fertiliser is usually unnecessary.
• Allow room for the mature spread so air can circulate through the branches.
• During prolonged summer drought, water at soil level rather than wetting the leaves.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering, shortening awkward shoots and removing up to one-third of the oldest stems at ground level if needed. An overgrown shrub can be cut back hard in late winter, but this sacrifices most of that spring's flowers.

Late winter

Remove dead or damaged wood; reserve hard renovation pruning for shrubs that genuinely need it.

Spring

Plant when the ground is workable, water thoroughly and mulch.

Late spring

Check new shoots for aphids and inspect leaves for powdery mildew.

Early summer

After flowering, thin crowded growth and remove selected old stems if necessary.

Summer

Water young shrubs during dry weather and watch exposed leaves for scorch.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while soil remains warm, and collect fallen diseased leaves.

• Use as a bright foliage accent against dark green or purple-leaved shrubs.
• Plant in a mixed border with blue- or violet-flowered perennials for contrast.
• Grow as an informal hedge, leaving enough space for its naturally arching branches.
• Include in a sunny woodland-edge planting with other deciduous shrubs.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Wildlife garden, Low-maintenance, Native hedgerow and Modern rustic.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Catmint, Hardy geranium, Russian sage, Purple-leaved ninebark and Switchgrass.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Dense branches offer shelter for small birds; the species is native to eastern and central North America, although this is a selected garden cultivar.

• Powdery mildew: white coating and distorted young growth are more likely in crowded conditions; improve airflow, avoid excessive nitrogen and remove badly affected shoots.
• Aphids: colonies may curl tender shoot tips; wash them off with water and allow ladybirds and other predators to feed.
• Leaf scorch: yellow foliage can develop brown edges in hot sun or drought; water deeply and provide afternoon shade in hot regions.
• Root decline in waterlogged soil: yellowing and dieback can follow prolonged saturation; improve drainage or move the shrub to a better-drained site.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is considered edible, and specific safety information for this cultivar is limited.

• Luteus ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Luteus')

  Also has yellow spring foliage and white flower clusters, but usually develops into a substantially larger shrub; young plants can be difficult to distinguish without a reliable label.

• Goldflame spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame')

  Has narrow, unlobed leaves, often bronze-orange when young, and pink summer flowers; Dart's Gold has broad, lobed leaves and white flowers.

Ninebark refers to the many peeling layers of bark on older stems, while Physocarpus means bladder-fruit, describing the inflated seed capsules.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings later in summer. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's golden foliage and compact habit.

Accepted botanical name

Physocarpus opulifolius

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 6.5. Average height 300 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.