Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Shrub Ninebark After only a year, most varieties of this plant will reach their full size. By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Colors Care Varieties Ninebark is not only an extremely versatile plant; the species is also experiencing many new innovations. Traditionally a green shrub with flowers and exfoliating bark, recent releases have brought ninebark new foliage colors. Their fast growing habit and appealing winter bark make these shrubs garden favorites. David Speer. Ninebark Overview Genus Name Physocarpus Common Name Ninebark Plant Type Shrub Light Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 3 to 12 feet Flower Color Pink, White Foliage Color Blue/Green, Chartreuse/Gold, Purple/Burgundy Season Features Colorful Fall Foliage, Summer Bloom, Winter Interest Special Features Attracts Birds, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Propagation Layering, Seed, Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Good For Privacy Colorful Combinations The traditional ninebark foliage color is a deep purple, but new foliage colors keep coming, with additions now including gold and amber foliage Some varieties even fade from one color to another as they age. Both size and overall form have improved in new ninebark varieties. New innovations have focused on shrinking the size to better adapt to a home garden setting. In smaller varieties, habits have also changed to be more upright instead of spilling branches. Create a Fall Garden Retreat Ninebark flowers are almost an afterthought. While they look nice, especially on varieties with dark foliage, the white and pink blooms don't last long. In the winter, the bark is what really shines through. As the bark of the older stems age, they peel back in layers, creating an exfoliation effect. Ninebark Care Must-Knows In just one year of growth, many ninebark varieties can reach their mature size. The rapid growth of these plants can be gratifying but also a deterrent for some people, since they may get a little too big in size. Luckily, ninebarks are amenable to pruning. Either prune after they bloom, or prune in late winter before growth starts (if you don't mind sacrificing their blooms). Top Flowering Shrubs for the Northeast The biggest problem that ninebarks encounter is powdery mildew. Luckily, this won't do any long-term harm. Thinning out older stems can increase air circulation and prevent mildew. More Varieties of Ninebark 'Summer Wine' Ninebark Doug Smith Physocarpus 'Summer Wine' is a compact purple-leaf selection that grows 5-6 feet tall and wide. Zones 3-7 'Dart's Gold' Ninebark Jay Wilde Physocarpus 'Dart's Gold' offers bright golden-yellow foliage and white flowers in early summer. It grows 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Zones 3-7. Little Devil Ninebark Marty Baldwin Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May' is an outstanding dwarf selection that displays rich burgundy-purple leaves with white flowers in early summer. It grows 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 3-7 'Coppertina' Ninebark Kim Cornelison Physocarpus 'Coppertina' shows off coppery-purple new growth that matures to purple red. It grows 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Zones 3-7 'Center Glow' Ninebark Marty Baldwin Physocarpus 'Center Glow' bears purple foliage that has a golden-yellow center when it's young. It grows 8 feet tall and wide. Zones 3-7 'Diablo' Ninebark Kim Cornelison Physocarpus 'Diabolo' features rich burgundy-purple foliage and white flowers. It grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 3-7 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit