Ninebark Little Angel

A striking, suckering, deciduous shrub, Physocarpus opulifolius Little Angel has a well-branched, compact, upright, bushy habit and is of average vigour. The rich, ovate, three-lobed leaves emerge orange-red, but mature to a rich burgundy-maroon – very good for adding depth of colour to a mixed bed or border. In June, small, cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers appear, followed by red berries which mature to brown, then black. Cut back up to one in four of the spent (oldest) stems after flowering, and remove suckers. Otherwise, a low-maintenance shrub, untroubled by pests and diseases. Can also be grown in ericaceous compost in a large container.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil, preferably acid
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 39” (1m) Spread: 39” (1m) in 5-10 years

Photos by Ellie Enking, Andy Morffew, and Peter Stenzel, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 and BY-ND 2.0.