Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Family Rosaceae
Ninebark is the native that out-toughs the exotics: arching five-to-ten-foot wands of burgundy, copper, or gold foliage, white flower clusters bees mob in late spring, and hardiness to forty below. When winter strips it bare, the branches peel in cinnamon layers — the ninth act.
Prairie-tough roots mean drought simply doesn't register, and it's safe around pets — a rare combination with foliage this dark and dramatic. Modern compact cultivars fit foundation beds without the old mildew troubles. Where you'd have settled for a purple-leaf exotic, plant the homegrown one instead.
Full Sun
Low water
Fast growth
Native to North America
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing ninebark? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries ninebark — Physocarpus opulifolius, print Nº 329, “Ninebark.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what ninebark actually needs.
Hardy inZones 2-8Ninebark · Common problems
Common ninebark problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Aphids on tips (beneficials usually handle)
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Powdery Mildew on some purple cultivars
Ninebark · Growing & propagation
Growing ninebark
- Light
- Full Sun (best leaf color) to part shade
- Water
- Low
Prairie-tough
Soil- Any, wet or dry · pH 5.5 - 7.5
Fertilizer- None
Pruning- After bloom; renewal-prune old canes at ground
Take a third of the oldest canes yearly for the exfoliating-bark show and fresh colorful growth.
Spacing- 5-8 ft
How to plant & propagate ninebark
- Propagate
- Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering
Ninebark · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The ninebark growing playbook
When to spray ninebark
Growing season. Choose mildew-resistant modern cultivars.
Ninebark · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Ninebark · Yearly calendar
The ninebark year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomBloomMay to June
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Ninebark · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Physocarpus opulifolius
Ninebark in the garden system
- Shrub layer shrub
- Nectary/insectary
Attracts- Bees
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
- Origin
- Native to North America
What ninebark is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Native foundation shrubs
- Use
- Color contrast
- Use
- Hedgerows
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Ninebark · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a ninebark variety
'Diabolo' (wine-purple); 'Amber Jubilee' (flame); 'Little Devil' (dwarf, mildew-resistant); 'Dart's Gold'
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
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Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Physocarpus opulifolius
- Plant family
- Rosaceae
- Growth habit
- Shrub · Perennial
- Origin
- Native to North America
- USDA plant symbol
- PHOP
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Ninebark
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Ninebark questions, answered straight.
Is ninebark safe for kids and pets?
Ninebark is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate ninebark?
Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering.
Elsewhere
Where ninebark sits in the library.
Rose
Hydrangea
Common Lilac
Forsythia