Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Ninebark 'Coppertina'

Earlier this week I went over to a friend's house to see her garden. She has some plant material that is a little out of the ordinary and I really like it. One of the plants is a Ninebark. Many of you know the native variety Physocarpus opulifolius. We have this variety in the Learning Garden and I like the red berries in the fall.



My friend has a Ninebark cultivar that is really striking. It is a cross between the Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold' and P. opulifolius 'Diablo'. Ninebark are hardy to a zones 3-8. There are fruits for the birds in the winter and really nice foliage through the growing season. 'Coppertina' has a bronze-y leaf that sparkles in the sunlight. Ninebark are easy to grow, take to pruning quite easily--you can limb it up to tree form or cut it back to have a nicely rounded shrub. It grows in full sun to part shade-- how accommodating!





21 comments:

  1. Very pretty Janet and it nice that it can be sun or shade.

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  2. I. Love. Ninebarks!
    I recently purchased one, but I don't recall which cultivar it is now. Guess I need to go look!

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  3. My son and daughter-in-law, who are definitely not gardeners, planted a ninebark last year, and it has done wonderfully for them. I don't know what cultivar it is--they didn't keep the label, of course--but it has more of a bronze foliage. Recently, a local garden columnist recommended ninebark as one of the best shrubs to plant here in Illinois.

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  4. Bren from BG_Gardens has a 'Coppertina' and I nearly purchased one when we went to the greenhouse together. I'd been looking for one a couple of years ago when it first came out and couldn't find it. In the meantime, I found another cultivar, 'Burgundy Star', which is also compact, so I bought three of those last year. This spring, my mom gave me two 'Diablo' so I just didn't have a need or even room for 'Coppertina.' :-( Too bad, because I think I like it the best of all. 'Center Glow' looks nice, though, too.

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  5. I really need to add this shrub to my list of MUST HAVES. Your photos are amazing. Thank you for sharing.

    Happy Summer - Thanks for stopping by my garden.

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  6. I have always thought Ninebark is a lovely shrub, and 'Coppertina' is especially nice!

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  7. This cross is a real beauty Janet. Ninebarks are great shrubs. I have one that ended up in my yard compliments of the birds (I guess). It grew up in the middle of one of my viburnum hedges and it's so attractive, I've left it.

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  8. Good morning all!!
    Linda, this is really an accomidating plant--both light requirements as well as soil conditions ---happy in just about any location.

    Aerie-el, Hope you are very happy with the new ninebark you just bought. I was amazed at how bright yellow the Dart's Gold one is.

    Rose, The ninebark seems to be great for so many locations across the country. The first photo is the one from the Learning Garden and it is the native cultivar.

    Kylee, I will have to look up the Burgundy Star cultivar, sound great being compact.

    Bren, thanks for visiting, this is surely a plant to have. I will visit more often.

    Sweet Bay, I like the berries for the birds through the winter-- a nice treat.

    Kathleen, Aren't birds so sweet to bring you seeds of surprise? These shrubs are nice, glad you left it in with the viburnum.

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  9. Ninebarks are pretty shrubs, but we just pulled out three diablos since they were too big for our yard. I gave them away to a friend, though, so they weren't doomed to the compost bin. It's sad to see them pruned into rounded shapes in our neighborhoo, since most yards don't have room to let them grow into their natural, arching form.

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  10. It has attractive foliage and comes in several colors. I am all for accommodating plants. You are so lucky.
    Donna

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  11. I love these shrubs...and would gladly give up the forsythia in a few places for them! Now if I can find a strong back to dig up the forsythia! Gail

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  12. Can you tell me again where the learning garden is?

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  13. I am back.... the photo threw me because I have the coppertina only mine is darker and more rust tone. DO You have yours in mostly shade?
    Mine is in full sun and has doubled in the past month despite the lack of rain.

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  14. Hi VW, sorry to hear that you needed to remove some of these shrubs... though I am glad you were able to find someone to give them to.

    Hi Donna, I hope you can find one of these to put in your garden.

    Hi Gail, This would be a perfect replacement for a forsythia!! Hope you find a strong back.

    Evening Phillip, The Learning Garden is just off of Goodwin Neck Road, in front of the York County Fire and Safety building. It is one mile from RT 17 (intersection of Rt 17 and Denbigh Blvd & Goodwin Neck.) Hope to see you!

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  15. Hi Bren, Yes the Ninebark in the SECOND photo is the Coppertina and it is in full sun at my friend's house. The TOP photo is the native variety in the Learning Garden. Could be the photo -- sorry to say had to take pictures in full sun, which as we all know washes out colors.

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  16. I don't have any, but I love this plant, especially Dart's Gold. That color pops and it enhances anything around it. All of them are tough plants and seem to be able to endure a lot of abuse and neglect.

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  17. I love the ninebarks so much. I have the species type here and you almost can't harm it at all. It grows in the shade and anywhere. At this year's lawn and garden show they gave away seedlings of ninebark and I jumped on it. Those seedlings are doing good. But the really good news is I picked up Coppertina at Summer Celebration yesterday. It was only $3 and is taller than me. He had tons and they were hot sellers. The plants are pot bound but that is okay. I like the information about the parentage of it. I did not know one of the parents was Diablo and have always admired that one. The guys says these are most easy to propagate from cuttings. Your friend's plant is most wonderful and I hope mine gets berries too.

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  18. Hi Les, these are hardy plants and you are right, the Dart's Gold really pops.

    Good morning Tina, How lucky to get some of these shrubs! $3 for one taller than you is a steal! Yours should flower and berry.

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  19. Wow that is a striking specimen. I didn't realize they would take some sun. I might have to find a place in my garden for one of the cultivars if not the native. ;)

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  20. Thanks for the intro to Ninebark. It is new to me!

    Looks like I need to stay close to home and will not be making it up your way this month. I'll let you know when things change.

    H.

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  21. Hi Racquel, the one in the Learning Garden is in full sun. Nice shrub.
    Hi Helen, You should check out some of the cultivars of the ninebark.
    sorry you won't be coming up here. Hopefully it can happen sometime soon.

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