Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ (Common Ninebark)

A vibrant player in the landscape for the length of the growing season, award-winning Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ is a stunning purple-leaved ninebark cultivar with an exquisite fountain shape and incredibly decorative exfoliating bark. Profuse creamy-white flowers, delicately pink-tinged, appear in dense, rounded clusters in late spring before they give way to drooping clusters of red fruit in fall. They contrast beautifully with the interesting maple-like foliage of deep purple, rounded, lobed leaves, which may fade to green in hot summer climates or partial shade. Hidden by the foliage during the growing season, the bark is revealed in all its splendor later in the season, peeling in multiple strips to display layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, providing winter interest. Known for its strong hardiness, ‘Diabolo’ is of easy culture and a very versatile multi-stemmed shrub.

• Vigorous, this deciduous shrub typically grows upright with a spreading habit, up to 4-8 feet tall and wide (120-240 cm), and enjoys an excellent resistance to insects and disease.
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, slightly acidic, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Though it tolerates shade, the best foliage color and bloom display will occur in sun. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, except overly wet. This Ninebark doesn’t enjoy hot and humid summer climates.
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
• Perfect as a specimen plant or planted in groups. Great for mixed shrub borders, hedges, and screens or banks and slopes (erosion control).
• Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer or pot up rooted suckers in fall or spring
• Prune as required immediately after bloom.