Physocarpus opulifolius Spicy Devil®
Overview
Uses: Hedges, mixed borders, specimen plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: Deep purple foliage on a compact, well-branched ninebark. Clusters of pink-tinged white flowers appear in late spring, and the plant holds its dark color through summer heat.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — dense, full branching.
Bloom Color: White and Pink
Foliage Color: Deep Purple to Burgundy
Mature Height: 4–6 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Dark, moody foliage on a ninebark sized for an ordinary border.
Ninebark is a native shrub of eastern North America, and its purple-leaved selections have become favorites for adding contrast to the garden. Many of them grow 8 to 10 feet tall, though, which is more shrub than most yards can use. Spicy Devil® stays around 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide, with dense, full branching from the base.
The leaves open deep purple and settle into a rich burgundy, and they hold that dark color through summer heat. In late spring, rounded clusters of white flowers tinged with pink open along the branches, standing out clearly against the foliage. Bees and butterflies work them heavily.
After the leaves drop, the older stems show the trait that gives ninebark its name: bark that peels away in thin, papery layers. Use it as an informal hedge, a dark backdrop in a mixed border, or a single specimen behind gold, silver, or white-flowered plants that need something to stand out against.
Care
Spicy Devil® Ninebark Care
Plant in full sun for the darkest foliage. The plant will grow in partial shade, but the leaves turn noticeably greener with less light.
Ninebark is adaptable about soil. It grows in clay, rocky ground, and ordinary garden beds, and handles slightly dry sites better than wet ones. Good drainage matters more than richness.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established plants tolerate dry spells well. Water at the base rather than over the leaves, and give plants room for air to move around them, which helps keep powdery mildew in check during humid summers.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty, and plants in reasonable soil often need none.
Ninebark flowers on the previous year's growth, so prune right after bloom. Each year or two, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base to keep the plant full and the new foliage dark. If a plant ever becomes overgrown, it can be cut back hard in late winter and will regrow, at the cost of that year's flowers.
Size
What Size is the Spicy Devil® Ninebark for Sale Online?
Our Spicy Devil® Ninebark ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Spicy Devil® Ninebark Grow?
Expect about 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, rounded shape. Space plants about 4 feet apart for an informal hedge.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually called common ninebark, or simply ninebark. The name comes from the bark on older stems, which peels away in many thin layers.
Is Spicy Devil® Ninebark a native plant?
It is a selection of Physocarpus opulifolius, which is native across much of eastern and central North America. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the flowers and pollinator value of the native species while adding ornamental traits such as dark foliage and a more compact size. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Will the leaves stay purple all summer?
In full sun, yes. Spicy Devil® holds its deep purple to burgundy color through summer heat. In partial shade the foliage still grows well but takes on more green, so plant it where it gets at least six hours of direct sun if dark color is the goal.
How is it different from other purple ninebarks?
The best-known purple ninebarks are large shrubs that reach 8 to 10 feet and can open up at the base with age. Spicy Devil® gives the same dark color on a plant about half that height, with denser branching, so it fits foundation beds, mixed borders, and smaller yards. For more flowering shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
