SUMMER WINE NINEBARK

NINEBARK, THE SPECIES

 SUMMER WINE NINEBARK

NINEBARK, THE SPECIES, FLOWER HEADS...

SUMMER WINE NINEBARK FLOWER HEADS

Wednesday, 7:30 AM.  56 degrees F at the ferry dock,  52 on the back porch.  Wind NNW, light to moderate.  The sky is mixed clouds and clear, changing rapidly.  The humidity is 77% and the barometer is still rising, now at 29.93".  We got a trace of rain last night, just enough to wet the decks.  It is a pleasant, quiet morning.

   Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius, in the rose family, is a large, spreading shrub native to northeastern Canada and the the northeastern US, and it occurs westerly through the Great Lakes and upper Midwest.  There only a few species in the genus, which is closely related to the genus Spiraea. The Latin genus name refers to the particular appearance of the seeds, and the species name to the simple, palmately lobed leaves.  There are several other North American species, and one in eastern Asia.  The native P. opulifolius  has white flower heads and also has a rather interesting white to cinnamon colored  exfoliating bark, which unfortunately is usually obscured by the leaves during the growing season.  Its native habitat is northern rocky shores, banks and thickets.  It has some landscape uses and can be trimmed into a nice hedge, but generally speaking it is not an outstanding landscape plant.

   There are several fine cultivars, however, that are quite interesting and beautiful as landscape plants.  Summer Wine, the patent name of which is P. opulifolius 'Seward', is a compact shrub with purple-green foliage and very attractive clusters of white-pink flowers, and good fall color.  It is hardy to zone 3.  It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types but prefers well-drained soil conditions.

   The cultivar Summer Wine is a good example of the improvement of a species for landscape purposes through selective breeding.  In case you are getting confused by the nomenclature, horticultural plants can sometimes have different names for the same plant.  'Seward' indicates that the original plant breeder has been granted a plant patent by the USDA and collects royalties in its propagation.  Summer Wine is a trade name adopted by some propagators and nurseries.  When in doubt, look for the Latin genus and species names followed by a name enclosed by a single parenthesis before and after the name.    If there is an X after the latin genus name it is a hybrid between two different species.