Summer Wine ninebark

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; foliage colour is strongest with at least six hours of direct sun.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, it tolerates short dry spells, but benefits from deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Adaptable to clay, loam or sandy soil, provided it drains reasonably well; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions.

Height

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m)

Spread

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; rounded clusters of pale pink buds opening to pinkish-white flowers.

Foliage

Small, lobed, wine-purple leaves on arching stems; leaves may become greener in shade or summer heat.

Growth

Moderate to fast

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

   2.6 ft (0.79 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   5 ft (1.7 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

• Plant with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil and allow room for its mature spread.
• Water deeply when the root zone starts to dry during its first growing season.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Keep neighbouring plants from crowding the branches to improve airflow.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering, shortening overlong shoots and removing up to one-third of the oldest stems at ground level if the shrub is crowded. Remove dead or damaged wood whenever noticed; routine shearing spoils its arching shape.

Late winter

Inspect bare stems and remove dead, broken or rubbing branches; leave healthy flowering wood intact.

Spring

Plant where the soil is workable and refresh mulch around established shrubs.

Late spring

Check new growth for aphids and watch for the first signs of powdery mildew.

Early summer

After flowering, thin crowded stems and shorten branches only where necessary.

Summer

Water deeply during prolonged dry weather, especially while the shrub is establishing.

Autumn

Plant while the soil remains warm and moist; clear fallen leaves if mildew was troublesome.

• Use as a dark-leaved anchor in a mixed border with pale flowers and silver or lime-green foliage.
• Plant as an informal hedge, allowing the branches to arch rather than clipping them into a tight shape.
• Repeat through a large border to link groups of grasses and summer-flowering perennials.
• Place against a light-coloured wall or fence where the purple leaves and pale flowers stand out.

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

Plant it with: Catmint, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Feather reed grass, Hardy geranium and Silver mound wormwood.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other visiting insects. Dense branching offers shelter for small birds, and the species supports some native moth larvae in its North American range.

• Powdery mildew can coat leaves and distort new growth; provide sun and airflow, avoid excessive nitrogen, and thin crowded stems after flowering.
• Aphids may cluster on soft shoots; wash them off with water and allow ladybirds and other predators to work.
• Persistently wet soil can cause root decline; improve drainage or move the shrub rather than continuing to water.
• Weak purple colour and sparse flowering usually indicate too much shade; move to a sunnier position if practical.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is considered food, and eating plant material may still cause digestive upset.

• Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo')

  Usually grows substantially taller and broader, with larger, coarser leaves; Summer Wine has finer foliage and a more compact habit.

• Little Devil ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May')

  Generally stays around 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) tall and wide, with a smaller, denser framework than Summer Wine.

Physocarpus refers to the inflated fruits, opulifolius means leaves resembling those of guelder rose, and ninebark refers to the older bark peeling away in many thin layers.

Propagation. Root softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or layer a low branch. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's purple foliage, size or 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.