Physocarpus opulifolius
Common name: 
Common Ninebark
Pronunciation: 
fi-so-KAR-pus op-u-li-FO-li-us
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous shrub, to 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) tall, similar spread, branches with brown bark, exfoliating in long irregular strips.  Leaves alternate, simple, oval-rounded, 7.5 × 7.5 cm, usually 3-lobed, base usually cordate, medium green above, paler and glabrous, or nearly so, below; petioles 0.6-2 cm long.   Flowers small, 1 cm wide, 5 white or pinkish petals, about 30 purplish stamens, in hemispherical clusters (corymbs) 2.5-5 cm wide, bloom in early summer.  Fruit 3-5 inflated follicles, reddish, about 6 mm long.
  • Sun to part shade, considered tough, acid or alkaline soil, withstands dry situations.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 2   Native to eastern North America, from Quebec to Minnesota, south to Arkansas and Virginia.  There are several selections in the nursery trade, including:
    • 'Dart's Gold'  -   leaves bright yellow in spring and early summer, green-yellow later
    • Diabolo®  -  leaves purplish-red during much of the growing season
    • 'Luteus'  -  leaves are initially yellow, gradually changing to yellowish-green or light green
    • Summer Wine™  -  leaves deeply cut, wine-red to bronze-red during much of the growing season
  • opulifolius: opulus-leaved (similar to Viburnum opulus).
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering and fruiting

    plant habit, flowering and fruiting

  • flower and fruit clusters

    flower and fruit clusters

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • young fruit cluster

    young fruit cluster

  • leaf

    leaf