Common Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Also known as: Physocarpus bracteatus

Eric Hunt

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Rosaceae
Genus:: Physocarpus
Species:: Physocarpus opulifolius

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub
Height:: 8-12 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: may, jun
Bloom Colors:: White, Pink
Evergreen Shrub:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, 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, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★★☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Aethes sp., Ancylis spiraeifoliana, birch leaffolder (Ancylis discigerana), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), bluish spring moth (Lomographa semiclarata), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), common eupithecia (Eupithecia miserulata), Dimorphic eulithis (Eulithis molliculata), Dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula), Eupithecia palpata, Eupsilia sp., Glorious Habrosyne (Habrosyne gloriosa), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hemina Pinion (Lithophane hemina?), Herpetogramma abdominalis, hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Hitched Arch (Melanchra adjuncta), Io moth (Automeris io), Itame abruptata, Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Lithophane oriunda, Morrison's sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni), Morrisonia evicta, Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), One-spotted variant moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata), Prochoerodes transversata, purplish leafroller moth (Olethreutes permundana), signate melanolophia moth (Melanolophia signataria), spiny looper moth (Phigalia titea), Stigmella corylifoliella, Unicorn caterpillar moth (Schizura unicornis), white spring moth (Lomographa vestaliata), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Xylena curvimacula

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: prefers fertile soils in riparian zones

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Mix an equal amount of seeds with either perlite or vermiculite in a Ziploc-style bag or a small Rubbermaid-style container. Add a small amount of water (no visible water should be in the bag or container). Place in a refrigerator or cold garage (33-42 degrees F) for 3-5 months. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years). Alternatively, seeds can be sown in fall (October) mixed 1:1 (v:v) with sifted oak sawdust.

Establishment: Seeds are collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. Flowers in the spring. Seed is a bright red fruit and is harvested from July to August. In Missouri, fruits ripen from August to early October and are small, dry pods hanging in drooping, papery clusters that resemble bellows. Each pod contains 2 to 5 yellowish, shiny seeds. Seeds are collected in late September. To allow them to further ripen and dry, they are placed in elevated wooden boxes with standard house screen on the bottom.

Source: npn.rngr.net