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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Physocarpus opulifolius

Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark, Common Ninebark

Scientific Name:

Physocarpus opulifolius

Genus:

Physocarpus

Species Epithet:

opulifolius

Common Name:

Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark, Common Ninebark

Plant Type

Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

6-12 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White, Pink

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

May, June

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont

Habitat Description:

Physocarpus opulifolius var. intermedius: Limestone river bluffs, mesic hammocks, streambanks; rock outcrops; rare in NC Piedmont.

Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius (Eastern Ninebark): Stream banks, riverside thickets and scour prairies, rock outcrops, cliffs, fens, seepage swamps, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks (Weakley 2015). Common in NC Mountains and Piedmont.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Ninebark by a stream in the mountains

Ninebark is a tough, sprawling shrub with pretty white to pink flowers and peeling bark. There are several cultivars and it performs well in shrub borders and gardens, adding late-season bloom.

image

C Paynter, August 2010

Flowers

Ninebark flowers with a Tiger Swallowtail

image

C Paynter, June 15, 2011

Close-up of Flowers

image

Leaves

image

Peeling bark

image

Fruit

They dry fruits (follicles) split along one seam to show the reddish seeds inside.

image

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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