Description
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is a deciduous shrub that grows naturally on rocky hillsides, streambanks, and moist thickets, but it is adaptable to a wide variety of soil and site conditions. It is commonly used in the landscape as a border or hedge for screening and privacy. Ninebark offers year-round interest. In the spring, white-pinkish flowers grow in small but numerous clusters. These flowers are an excellent source of nectar and pollen for native bees and other pollinators. Red-burgundy fruit appears in July and provides food for birds and small mammals. In the fall, foliage turns a subdued but attractive copper/yellow, and the exfoliating bark reveals reddish-brown inner bark for winter interest.
