Physocarpus Summer Wine® Ninebark

Elevate your garden with the exceptional Physocarpus Summer Wine®, a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub, selection that brings both beauty and resilience to your landscape. This unique ninebark cultivar combines the best attributes of its parent plants—Physocarpus opulifolius 'Nanum' and P. opulifolius Diabolo®—resulting in a compact, free-branching shrub with fine texture and striking dark foliage. Its deeply lobed, wine-red leaves provide a dramatic contrast to the surrounding greenery, maintaining their rich color throughout the summer, especially when planted in full sun.

In late spring, Summer Wine bursts into bloom with clusters of small, spherical, pinkish-white flower "buttons" that adorn its arching branches. These delicate blooms, reminiscent of spiraea, add a soft, elegant touch to the bold foliage. As the flowers fade, they give way to small red seed pods that continue to add visual interest. One of the standout features of this shrub is its exfoliating bark. As the leaves drop in fall, the reddish to light brown peeling bark on mature branches becomes more visible, providing a textured and attractive element to the winter garden.

Summer Wine is not just about looks; it's also a powerhouse of durability. This shrub thrives in a variety of soil conditions, including shallow and rocky soils, making it an excellent choice for challenging garden spots. Its robust nature also makes it drought-tolerant and capable of handling erosion-prone areas, adding stability and structure to your landscape. While it reaches a mature size of 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, it can be pruned immediately after blooming to maintain a desired shape or even cut back to the ground each spring for rejuvenation.

This versatile ninebark is ideal for a range of garden uses. Plant it as a striking specimen in mixed borders, use it to create a stunning mass planting, or add it to containers for a bold statement. Its lush foliage and charming blooms also make it a beautiful choice for cut flowers, bringing a touch of elegance indoors.

Physocarpus Summer Wine is cold hardy to Zone 3, making it suitable for cooler climates, though it is less ideal for the hot and humid conditions of the deep South. For best results, place it in a sunny to partly sunny location with well-drained soil. Once established, it requires minimal care—simply enjoy its vibrant color and easy-going nature.

Introduce the Physocarpus Summer Wine to your garden for a trouble-free way to enjoy stunning foliage and seasonal blooms. Its combination of beauty, toughness, and versatility makes it a must-have for any landscape.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs