Common Ninebark
Common Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Plant Details:
Plant type: Shrub | Straight native species
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil moisture: Dry to wet
Mature size: 5–8 ft. tall × 4–8 ft. wide
Bloom time: May–June
Growth rate: Medium to fast
Container size: 3 gallon pot
Estimated size at pickup in feet (if available): 2-3
Great For
• Hedges and informal screens
• Shrub borders and foundation plantings
• Erosion control and naturalized sites
Ecological Benefits
• Flowers support bees and other pollinators. Seeds and dense branches provide food and cover for wildlife.
Why We Recommend It
Common Ninebark is a highly adaptable native shrub with white spring flowers, peeling bark, and dense branching that provides cover for wildlife. We recommend it for informal screens, shrub borders, slopes, and erosion-control plantings where a broad, durable shrub is useful. Flowers support pollinators, and the foliage hosts native moth caterpillars. It tolerates drought, clay, wet soil, and urban conditions, but renewal pruning may be needed to prevent the mature shrub from becoming large, open, and rangy.
Good to Know
• Extremely adaptable native shrub
• White spring flowers and peeling bark
• Useful for screens, slopes, and difficult soils
Care/behavior information: Prune after flowering. Remove older stems at ground level periodically rather than repeatedly shearing the outer growth.
Warning or placement concerns (if applicable): Can become large and rangy without renewal pruning. Powdery mildew may occur, especially with poor airflow.
Notable wildlife detail (if applicable): Host plant for several native moths, including the ninebark dagger moth.
Deer resistant (if applicable):
Rabbit resistant (if applicable):
Special tolerances: Drought; clay soil; wet soil; erosion; urban conditions
Fall 2026 Plant Pickup
This is a preorder item and will not be available until our fall pickup event. Plants are not shipped.
Pickup Dates
Thursday, October 1, 2026 |11:00 AM–6:00 PM in Noblesville, IN
Friday, October 2, 2026 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM in Noblesville, IN
Pickup Location
Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville, Indiana. More info will be shared via email as the pick-up dates approach.
Please plan to pick up your order during one of these scheduled times. Plants are living material and cannot be held beyond the pickup event unless prior arrangements have been made.
Plant Guarantee
We guarantee that you will receive a healthy plant at pickup. Because survival depends on planting methods, weather, site conditions, and ongoing care, we cannot offer refunds or guarantees after pickup. Height estimates are approximate and not guaranteed. Remember that you're investing in a healthy root system—the foundation of long-term success—not simply above-ground height.
Photos courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation and/or Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.