Description
Native to most of the eastern half of North America, ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is a mounded, deciduous shrub that reaches 6 to 10 feet tall. The species offers eye-catching features through much of the year: clusters of white flowers in late spring to early summer, bright red seedpods in summer, fall foliage color in shades of yellow to red, and exfoliating (peeling) bark on the stems for winter.
You don’t often see the straight species for sale, but cultivars with colorful foliage are widely available. In my garden, I have yellow-leaved ‘Dart’s Gold’ and near-black Diabolo (‘Monlo’), as well as a number of self-sown seedlings from them. Most of the seedlings have the foliage color of their parent plant, but some of the seedlings are intermediate in color, as shown in the second-to-last photo: golden to orangey shoot tips with darker older foliage. These seeds are about an even mix from golden- and dark-leaved plants, but there’s no guarantee as to the exact colors you will get. If you want a specific foliage color and an immediate presence in your garden, you are best off buying a plant. But if you have lots of space and enjoy experimenting, these seeds are likely to produce some interesting results and are worth a try. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 2 to 8.
Collected in early to mid September 2023. At least 15 seeds. Unknown ecotype. Shipping to US addresses only.
Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
Julie Vance (verified owner) –
Judith Cmero (verified owner) –
My seedlings are doing beautifully.