common ninebark - KPU Plant DB

Scientific Name:

Physocarpus opulifolius

Pronunciation:

fizz-oh-KAR-pus op-you-lih-FOE-lee-us

Common Name:

common ninebark

Family Name:

Rosaceae

Plant Type:

Shrub - deciduous

Key ID Features:

Multi-stemmed shrub usually kept to 3-4m tall; leaves yellowish to purple/chocolate depending on cultivar, 3-lobed, margins crenate to serrate; flowers white corymb, May-Jul; fruit persistent, bright red to dark red. Winter ID: exfoliating bark strips on mature branches, reddish-light brown inner bark.

Habit:

Open, Spreading, Twiggy, Upright

Form:

Oval - vertical, Round, Vase

Texture:

Medium

Mature Height:

3 - 5m

Mature Spread:

3 - 4m

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Origin:

Canada - eastern, Garden origin, U.S. - northeast

Hardiness Rating:

Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)

Exposure:

Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade

Soil/Growing Medium:

Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained

Water Use:

Low

Landscape Uses:

Accent plant, Cut flower or foliage, Group or mass planting, Mixed shrub border, Screening, Sheared hedge, Specimen plant, Spring interest, Summer interest, Tall background, Woodland margin

Additional Info:

Google. Cultivars shown or on campus may include P. 'Dart's Gold', P. 'Mindia', and P. 'Monlo'.

Leaf Morphology:

Glossary

Form:

Simple, Lobed

Arrangement:

Alternate

Texture/Venation:

Soft flexible, Pinnate venation

Surfaces:

Glabrous

Colour in Summer:

Green-yellow, Purple, Dark-red, Nearly Black

Colour in Fall:

Yellow, Orange, Purple, Red

Shapes:

Ovate

Apices:

Acute

Bases:

Cordate

Margins:

Crenate, Double serrate, Pinnately lobed

Additional Info:

Spectacular fall colour

Inflorescence Type:

Corymb, Floriferous

Flower Morphology:

Flowers perfect

Number Of Petals:

5

Corolla Shape:

Rotate/stellate

Colour (petals):

Showy, White, Pink

Flower Scent:

None

Flower Time at Peak:

May, Jun

Additional Info:

Several simple pistils

Fruit Type:

Aggregate fruit, Follicle

Fruit Colour:

Red

Fruiting Time:

Sep, Oct

Additional Info:

Not showy, Persistent,

Bark Morphology:

Showy, Exfoliating, Multi-stem trunk

Bark or Stem Colour:

Tan, Brown, Dark brown

Organ Modifications:

Stipule, leafy

Propagation:

Seed, Softwood cuttings, Layering

Pest Susceptibility:

Blight or needle cast, Leaf scorch, Mildew (Drought tolerant)

Course(s):

HORT 2355
Level 2 Apprenticeship

Location(s):

(GAZ) GAZebo
(GAZE) GAZebo East : cv. Dart's Gold
(GAZN) GAZebo North : cvs. Monlo, Dart's Gold
(GAZW) GAZebo West : cv. Dart's Gold
(NRY) NuRserY
(ONE) Overpass North side East : cv. Monlo
(ONW) Overpass North side West : cv. Mindia

Location Map