Summer Wine Ninebark
Summer wine ninebark is a medium-sized shrub with beautiful burgundy leaves. The branches grow in an upright, arching manner and have attractive, peeling bark on the thicker stems. In early summer, it produces clusters of small, pinkish-white flowers.
Summer wine ninebark is a tough, resilient shrub that is well-adapted to Colorado Springs landscapes. It is smaller than Diablo ninebark, stays more compact, and has redder leaves.
Summer Wine Ninebark
Summer wine ninebark is a medium-sized shrub with beautiful burgundy leaves. The branches grow in an upright, arching manner and have attractive, peeling bark on the thicker stems. In early summer, it produces clusters of small, pinkish-white flowers.
Summer wine ninebark is a tough, resilient shrub that is well-adapted to Colorado Springs landscapes. It is smaller than Diablo ninebark, stays more compact, and has redder leaves.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward'
Pronunciation
fy-so-KAR-pus op-yoo-lih-FOH-lee-us
Mature Height
4 to 6 ft.
Mature Spread
4 to 6 ft.
Water usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
white
Bloom time
May to June
Colorado Native
Yes
Natural Habitat
native species occurs from central to eastern US
Light Requirements
sun
Cold Hardiness
USDA zones 3-8
Elevation Limit
hardy to 7,500 ft.
Performance
At the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, summer wine ninebark has been an excellent performer. Not only is the leaf color is eye-catching, but it has grown well in hot, full sun areas with minimal maintenance.
If the older branches are thinned out regularly, the plant retains a beautiful appearance. It could be used as a specimen plant, or also an effective background shrub for plants with white or pink flowers.
Maintenance
Prune out dead, flopping, or older branches to keep the shrub looking fresh and nicely shaped.