Ninebark is a flowering, deciduous shrub in the rose family and native to central and eastern North America. It displays white or pink flowers from late spring into early summer. If needed, prune just after blooming, but no later than mid-August. Keep in mind that next year's flowers will appear on old growth. It can be cut to the ground in the winter to rejuvenate. It may be found growing on rocky hillsides and banks of streams as well as in moist thickets. Ninebark is a tough and adaptable plant that does well in slightly acidic, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. This plant will do well in full sun in the northern part of its range, but appreciates some shade in its southernmost locations. It is noted for its exfoliating bark that peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark. The exfoliating bark is best seen in the winter when foliage does not cover it. The common name comes from the layers of bark, said to be 9 layers. It is easy to transplant and can be used to create a flowering hedge. Cultivars of the purple-leafed type appear to lose the intensity of the purple when exposed to sunlight for longer periods of the day. Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center has an article on the use of Ninebark in rain gardens. Habitat: Var. intermedius: limestone river bluffs, mesic hammocks, streambanks; rock outcrops; var. opulifolius: Stream banks, riverside thickets and scour prairies, rock outcrops, cliffs, fens, seepage swamps, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Relatively trouble free, but can be susceptible to powdery mildew and fireblight.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withPhysocarpus opulifolius 'Summer Wine'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Lobed
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Ovate to rounded, 3 to 5 lobed leaves (to 4 inches long) are dull green in summer and an undistinguished yellow in fall.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Clusters of white-pinkish flowers from May to July. The small pink or white, five-petaled flowers appear in dense, 1 to 2 inch diameter, spirea-like clusters (corymbs).
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Drooping clusters (seed capsules), round in shape display from July to September.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Mature branches experience exfoliation. Strips of bark will peel to reveal layers of reddish-brown inner bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and eastern North America
Distribution
Introduced into European and central Asian countries.
Wildlife value
Attracts birds and bees
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland