Common Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Also listed as Neillia bracteata, Neillia opulifolia
Also known as Ninebark, Eastern Ninebark, Viburnum-leaved Ninebark
Climate Match for your location
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Common ninebark is a hardy, fast-growing deciduous shrub with white or pink flowers in late spring and ornamental exfoliating bark that provides winter interest. It's adaptable to various soil conditions and relatively low-maintenance.
Why grow it
Ninebark offers reliable four-season interest in a tough, adaptable shrub form. Unlike many deciduous shrubs, its exfoliating bark provides substantial winter texture, and it tolerates both wet and dry soils where more ornamental shrubs struggle. It also hosts native insects and provides food for birds, making it useful in wildlife-supporting landscapes.
Watch out for
Young plants can take 2-3 seasons to establish a full, dense habit, so patience during the establishment phase prevents disappointment with sparse growth. Hard pruning to rejuvenate older specimens is possible but should be staged over multiple years rather than done all at once to maintain plant vigor.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Common ninebark is a hardy, fast-growing deciduous shrub with white or pink flowers in late spring and ornamental exfoliating bark that provides winter interest. It's adaptable to various soil conditions and relatively low-maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Ninebark grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Ninebark offers reliable four-season interest in a tough, adaptable shrub form. Unlike many deciduous shrubs, its exfoliating bark provides substantial winter texture, and it tolerates both wet and dry soils where more ornamental shrubs struggle. It also hosts native insects and provides food for birds, making it useful in wildlife-supporting landscapes.
Watch out for
Young plants can take 2-3 seasons to establish a full, dense habit, so patience during the establishment phase prevents disappointment with sparse growth. Hard pruning to rejuvenate older specimens is possible but should be staged over multiple years rather than done all at once to maintain plant vigor.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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