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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Physocarpus opulifolius (Common ninebark)
Brundage, Stephanie

Physocarpus opulifolius

Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim., orth. cons.

Common Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PHOP

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A 3-10 ft., mound-shaped, deciduous shrub, atlantic ninebark offers spiraea-like flowers, attractive and persistent fruit pods, arching branches, yellow fall color, and exfoliating bark.

Atlantic Ninebark is fast-growing, insect and disease resistant, and drought-tolerant.

 

From the Image Gallery

38 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Aggregate , Follicle
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Aggregated follicles, red, brown.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: NY to MN & SD, s. to FL, AR & KS; an escape northeastward
Native Habitat: Stream banks; rocky hillsides; woodland edges

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Clay, Loam
Conditions Comments: Common ninebark is fast-growing, insect & disease resistant, and drought-tolerant.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by fall-sown seed or semi-hardwood cuttings with or without hormone treatment.
Seed Collection: Ripe fruits can be picked from the shrub or shaken onto a drop cloth.
Seed Treatment: Seeds require no special treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Flowering and evergreen shrubs for landscape in Indiana
May 29, 2010
I live in Southern Indiana and we are getting ready to redesign our front landscape. Currently, we have some yews and other shrubs that are unruly and require a lot of pruning and care. My husband hat...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen shrubs for Michigan
June 17, 2008
I'm seeking a small-medium, ornamental, fairly compact, evergreen shrub to complement my front yard woodland wildflower garden. I want a shrub that will flank both sides of my front porch steps. I wa...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FACU FACW FACU FACW FACW FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Physocarpus opulifolius in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Physocarpus opulifolius in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Physocarpus opulifolius

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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