Physocarpus, Ninebark, Purple Ninebark, Eastern Ninebark 'Summer Wine'

'Summer Wine' and 'Diablo' are the two most commonly sold Ninebarks at most conventional nurseries in the Midwest and East USA. (I only f...Read Moreind the green mother species sold at native plant nurseries.) Both red-leaved cultivars are fast growing, reliable, easy to grow, and just need some selective pruning with hand pruners every so often. They are both best left in their natural form. Summer Wine has smaller, more deeply lobed leaves and its habit has some droopiness of the outer branches.

I purchased a one gallon Ninebark 'Summer Wine' from Sooner Plant Farm last spring. I planted it in a southeast facing corner of my hous...Read Moree, and it is doing excellent. It receives morning sun and afternoon shade. It was more green than purple during the summer with the 100 degree temps we experienced here in South Central Kansas. However, once the weather cooled off in October the Ninebark's leaves turned a nice dark purple color. It has proven to be a very hardy shrub. It is now November 19, 2012 and has still not gone dormant although everything else in my area has. I included a photo link in this post, and you can see some bright red fall color on a few of the leaves, but most of the leaves are still holding that dark purple color.
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i planted summer wine 2009 in a mixed bed in my front yard
manitoba canada zone 3a.
it spent the first year settling in but...Read More now is doing very well.
the deep burgandy color goes well with the pale yellow siding of my house. it has :
new growth comes from the center
outside growth arches and blooms touching the ground
it is extremly hardy, budding to branch tips
loves the sun, but likes to be kept well-watered
very pretty even in the winter
have also included now ninebark hot chocolate in my
landscaping.

This shrub is beautiful all year round. It's a haven for the birds and completely carefree.