How to Grow and Care for Ninebark Shrub

Ninebark is a deciduous spring-flowering shrub widely used in landscaping. It gets its name from its unique exfoliating bark, which peels back in thin layers as its branches mature. The foliage—yellow, green, or reddish leaves—forms an attractive cascading mound. The red fruit in late summer and autumn attracts birds.

Ninebark is best planted in the early spring while still dormant. It is usually sold as a potted nursery specimen. This fast-growing shrub can reach maturity in just one growing season, especially when started from a 1-gallon nursery pot.

Ninebark Care

Ninebark is an easy-to-care-for shrub with minimal needs. Here are the main care requirements for growing a ninebark:

• Plant it in a location with full sun to partial shade where it has ample space to grow.
• Amend the soil with organic matter before planting.
• Water only until the shrub is established.
• Mulch around the base after planting to retain soil moisture.
• Apply tree and shrub fertilizer once a year in the spring.
• Prune the shrub after it flowers and no later than mid-August.

Light

Plant ninebark in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. It will flower best in full sun. In northern latitudes, the shrub prefers around six hours of direct light each day, but in southern locations, the plant appreciates some afternoon shade.

Soil

Ninebark grows well in clay and loam soil, as well as in shallow and rocky soil. A neutral to slightly acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 6.5) that drains well is ideal but it will tolerate slightly alkaline soils as well.

Provide mulch around the base every year to help the plant retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Water

Ninebark will grow in both dry and wet locations. Its water requirements are generally low, and once established, it makes a very good drought-tolerant shrub. It also withstands poor drainage and occasional flooding.

Temperature and Humidity

Ninebark is typically tolerant of the different temperatures and humidity levels within its recommended hardiness zones, but the plant will not do well in the summer heat and high humidity of USDA zone 8 and above.

In a hot and humid environment, it is susceptible to fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.

Fertilizer

If you've planted the shrub in nutrient-rich soil, annual fertilization might not be necessary. It will be enough to add a layer of compost to the soil around the plant in the early spring.

Alternatively, apply a granular, slow-release tree and shrub fertilizer a few inches away from the base of the shrub and make sure to spread it out in a thin layer.

Types of Ninebark

Ninebark is available in many sizes, including dwarf varieties. There are also varieties with different leaf colors, the most common being purple and yellow.

• 'Diablo' (also known as 'Monlo') is an 8- to 10-foot-tall shrub with deep purple or burgundy foliage. It flowers in late spring.
• 'Little Devil' (also known as 'Donna May') is a dwarf variety that grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide with greenish burgundy foliage. It blooms early in the summer and is known for its mildew resistance.
• 'Center Glow' is one of the more colorful ninebark varieties. This 6- to 8-foot-tall shrub yields greenish-gold spring leaves that gradually mature to a deep burgundy later in the summer, and white flowers.
• 'Dart's Gold' has leaves turn bright yellow in spring, and then mature to a deep chartreuse in the summer. Come fall, the leaves develop a tinge of bronze. This shrub grows 4 to 5 feet tall with white spring blooms.
• 'Amber Jubilee' grows 5 to 6 feet tall with orange-yellow spring leaves that turn purple in the fall. It has white blooms in the late spring.

Pruning

Ninebark tends to bounce back well after pruning. Prune ninebark after it flowers, or no later than mid-August, to maintain its shape and to improve air circulation around the plant.

At each pruning, cut no more than one-third of the branches. Focus on older and damaged branches, as well as those that cross and rub each other.

In older shrubs, radically pruning them by cutting them 3 to 4 inches from the ground before winter encourages better leaf and flower growth next spring.

Propagating Ninebark

Ninebark can be propagated from hardwood cuttings or by layering. Note, however, that some ninebark cultivars are protected by plant patents or trademarked and, as such, may not be propagated in any form.

Cuttings

1. In late fall or early winter, cut pieces of hardwood branches (not softwood tips) about 1/2 inch thick and 4 to 6 inches long. Each cutting should have at least two nodes (bumps on the branch where leaves sprout).
2. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone. Gather the cuttings together and secure them with a rubber band.
3. Place the bundled cuttings in a plastic bag filled with slightly moist sphagnum moss or wood shavings.Store the cuttings in the refrigerator to keep them dormant.
4. In early spring, separate the bundled cuttings and plant them in containers filled with potting soil. Make sure the tops are facing up and bury the cuttings so that all but the top nodes are below the soil surface.
5. Water the cuttings regularly.
6. It usually takes a full growing season until the late fall, or until the next spring, for the cuttings to be fully rooted and ready to be planted in the landscape.

Air Layering

1. In the spring, carefully bend down one of the flexible branches of your mother plant so that a portion of it is buried in the soil.
2. Leave the tip of the branch exposed.
3. Secure it in place with a rock or landscape pin.
4. In early fall, remove the top layer of the soil to check whether it has rooted.
5. If that’s the case, snip the branch off the mother plant and transplant the rooted cutting in a new location.

Potting and Repotting

The compact and dwarf varieties of ninebark are good choices for containers. Use a container at least 24 inches wide and deep and with large drainage holes. Fill it with high-quality potting soil and keep in mind that container plants need more frequent watering than plants in garden soil.

Keep the shrub well-pruned to control its size. To refresh the potting medium, repot it every two years even if it hasn't outgrown its container yet. If the roots are filling the container, upgrade to a container one size larger filled with fresh potting soil.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

With proper care, established ninebark shrubs are not bothered by major pests or diseases. The shrub is susceptible to aphids. Spray the plant with a steady stream of water to knock them off.

Fireblight, powdery mildew, and leaf spots may occur, but are rarely fatal. Most diseases can be controlled by promptly removing the affected branches.

How to Get Ninebark to Bloom

Bloom Months

Ninebark blooms in May or June.

How Long Does Ninebark Bloom?

In ideal conditions, the shrub blooms for two weeks,

What Do Ninebark Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The pinkish-white flowers grow in dense clusters. The flowers have a sweet scent that attracts pollinators.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Ninebark needs ample sunlight to bloom prolifically. Consider pruning nearby trees and shrubs that cast shade on the shrub to increase sun exposure.

Caring for Ninebark After It Blooms

The time after the bloom is when you should do the annual pruning of your ninebark shrub.

From: thespruce