Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold'
DART'S GOLD NINEBARK
Family: Rosaceae
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A-1, A-3, 1-10,14-17.
USDA zones: 3-8.
Heat zones: 7-1.
Mature size:
Height: 6 feet (2 m).
Width: 8 feet (2.5 m).
Flowering period:
Early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Corymbs of white flowers with tinges of pink.
Leaf attributes:
Ovate, three-lobed, toothed, yellow leaves that have a bronze tint in the fall.
Light:
Full sun or partial shade.
Soil:
Acidic, fertile, moist, but well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Side dressing of compost in spring and deep watering during our drought season.
Propagation Methods:
Greenwood cuttings in summer with bottom heat.
Dig up rooted suckers in spring or fall.
Pruning Methods:
Prune right after flowering to remove crossed branches or dead wood. Thin out overcrowded stems by cutting them back to ground level. Prune only a 1/3 of the shrub to keep the exfoliating bark on the older branches.
Rainy Side Notes
Physocarpus comes from the Greek words physo and karpon, physo meaning a bladder and karpon a fruit, referring to its fruits. Deciduous yellow leaves and exfoliating bark are a good reason to grow this shrub. In spring the leaves return, decked out in eye-catching, cheery, golden-yellow hues. Later in summer, the foliage ages to a quieter lime-green, and in autumn, its greenery shifts back to yellow with an overlay of bronzy-red.
Once the shrub casts off its leaves, the exfoliating bark presents another season of interest . Although this shrub can take pruning to keep it smaller, it comes into full glory when allowed to grow naturally. It isn't necessary to prune every year; however, a light pruning every few years can enhance its natural shape while retaining the exfoliating bark.
Photographed in author's garden.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton