Little Devil ninebark

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; strongest burgundy colour and best flowering in full sun.

Water

Moderate; water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay and relatively poor soil; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; small pinkish-white flowers in rounded clusters.

Foliage

Small, lobed, deep burgundy-purple leaves; colour may become greener in shade. Deciduous, with variable reddish autumn colour.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• 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 ft (0.61 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.4 ft (0.72 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.7 ft (0.83 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1.1 m)

   full size

About 5 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

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed only if growth is weak; a light spring application of a balanced fertiliser is usually sufficient.
• Allow room for its mature width so air can circulate between plants.
• Water established plants during extended drought, especially in hot, exposed sites.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering if shaping is needed, shortening selected branches rather than shearing the whole shrub. Remove dead wood whenever noticed and, on older crowded plants, cut a few of the oldest stems to ground level in late winter; this sacrifices some flowers.

Late winter

Remove dead or damaged stems and selectively thin old, congested growth.

Spring

Plant while soil is workable, water thoroughly and renew mulch.

Late spring

Check new leaves for aphids and early signs of powdery mildew.

Early summer

After flowering, lightly prune only if the shrub needs shaping.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather and avoid wetting the foliage repeatedly.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is still warm; remove fallen leaves if mildew was troublesome.

• Plant as a low informal hedge along a path or property boundary.
• Use in small mixed borders where a full-sized purple ninebark would outgrow its space.
• Contrast its dark leaves with lime-green foliage, silver-leaved perennials or pale flowers.
• Repeat small groups among ornamental grasses and flowering perennials to give a border structure.

Garden styles it suits: Modern, Cottage garden, New perennial (prairie), Low-maintenance, Small-space and Traditional.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Lady's mantle, Feather reed grass, Purple coneflower and Lamb's ears.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects, including bees. The branching growth offers some shelter for small birds.

• Powdery mildew: white patches and distorted leaves can occur, especially in crowded or shaded sites. Improve airflow, water at soil level and remove badly affected shoots.
• Aphids: colonies may cluster on soft shoots. Wash them off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Root decline in waterlogged soil: poor growth and dieback can follow prolonged saturation. Improve drainage or move the shrub to a better-drained position.
• Weak foliage colour or sparse flowering: too much shade is a common cause. Move to a sunnier position if practical.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is intended as food, and eating substantial amounts of ornamental plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo')

  Has similar dark foliage but grows into a much larger shrub, typically 8-10 ft (2.4-3 m) tall, with larger leaves.

• Summer Wine ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward')

  Usually reaches 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m), with longer, more arching branches than the compact Little Devil.

• Purple-leaved Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

  Has small oval, unlobed leaves and sharp stem spines; ninebark has lobed leaves and no spines.

Physocarpus means bladder-like fruit, referring to the inflated seed capsules, while ninebark refers to the peeling layers of bark on older stems.

Propagation. Softwood cuttings in early summer can preserve the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably match it. This named cultivar has been protected by plant patents or plant breeders' rights, so check current local restrictions before propagating.

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.