Physocarpus Summer Wine Ninebark
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking year-round colorful foliage.
The Summer Wine® Ninebark is a striking, compact deciduous shrub known for its rich wine-red foliage that maintains its color best in full sun. It produces clusters of small, pinkish-white flowers in late spring, followed by attractive exfoliating bark for winter interest. This tough, vigorous plant is drought tolerant and adaptable to various soils, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders, mass plantings, or containers. It can be pruned after blooming or rejuvenated with a hard cutback in spring.
$24.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2609
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-37%
Below average
Virtual SKU
2624
/ v
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking vibrant, high-contrast foliage throughout the growing season
- Busy homeowners needing a resilient, low-maintenance landscape addition
- Designers prioritizing year-round texture and multi-seasonal visual interest
Who should skip it
- Owners of shaded gardens lacking sufficient direct sunlight
- Residents in humid climates prone to fungal plant issues
- Gardeners preferring a hands-off, no-pruning maintenance routine
Performance breakdown
Foliage Impact
Deep wine-red leaves provide dramatic, season-long color contrast in any landscape.
Maintenance Ease
A vigorous, low-fuss shrub that thrives with minimal pruning or attention.
Environmental Adaptability
Highly resilient across diverse climates and soil types once established.
Winter Interest
Exfoliating bark adds essential texture and visual depth during dormant months.
Drought Tolerance
Handles dry spells well, though consistent moisture optimizes overall plant health.
Versatility
Compact habit works perfectly in containers, borders, or mass landscape plantings.
Key Specs
Virtual SKU
v2624
Selected Product SKU
44145
Genus
Physocarpus
Species
opulifolius
Variety
'Seward'
Hardiness Zones
3 - 7
Mature Height
6 Feet
Mature Width
8 Feet
Features
- Striking wine-red foliage color
- Attractive exfoliating bark
- Drought tolerant and vigorous
- Attracts butterflies
- Suitable for containers and borders
- Easy care maintenance
- Blooms with pinkish-white flowers
- Maintains color in full sun
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Summer Wine Ninebark for its stunning, deep burgundy foliage, which provides year round color and structure to the garden. This exceptional design element is frequently highlighted. Reviewers also emphasize the plant's remarkable ease of care and reliability. It thrives in various conditions, requiring minimal effort to establish and maintain, making it a favorite for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking high impact visual appeal without demanding maintenance.
Know before you buy
This shrub performs best and achieves its richest wine-red foliage when planted in full sun, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Yes, the Summer Wine Ninebark is container-friendly. Ensure you use a large pot with good drainage to accommodate its mature size and mounding form.
Pruning is minimal for this variety. You can lightly prune it immediately after it finishes blooming in late spring, or perform a harder rejuvenation cutback in early spring before new growth begins.
The Summer Wine Ninebark is quite hardy and thrives in USDA zones 3 through 7, meaning it can withstand cold temperatures as low as -40°F.
Once it has established a healthy root system, this plant is notably drought-tolerant. While it prefers loamy, well-drained soil, it only requires moderate watering to stay healthy.
Yes, you should take precautions if your garden is in a high-traffic deer area. This specific variety is not considered deer-resistant.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$25