# mountain ninebark (*Physocarpus monogynus*)

Mountain ninebark is a cheerful shrub with lovely clusters of white flowers. Its branches are covered in peeling bark, making it look unique and interesting!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![mountain ninebark](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Physocarpus_monogynus_flower1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Physocarpus_monogynus_flower1.jpg)

## Appearance

The mountain ninebark is a resilient shrub with distinctive reddish-brown bark that peels in papery layers. It has deeply lobed green leaves, often turning yellow or red in autumn. Small, five-petaled white to pinkish flowers grow in umbrella-shaped clusters, creating a delicate display.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Physocarpus

## Interesting facts

- It can tolerate very cold winters, surviving where many other plants cannot!
- Its bark peels away in papery strips, like multiple coats of an old, wise tree!
- Many birds love to nest in its dense branches, finding safe shelter there.
- Native American tribes traditionally used parts of this shrub for tools and remedies.

## Special abilities

- **Tough Roots:** Mountain ninebark can anchor itself firmly with tough roots, helping it prevent soil erosion on steep slopes.
- **Layered Defense:** Its unique peeling bark helps protect mountain ninebark from harsh sun and cold temperatures, like a natural coat.
- **Pollinator Magnet:** Mountain ninebark produces sweet nectar that attracts many insects, ensuring its flowers are pollinated.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding plant reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects pollen and nectar from flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its leaves and young stems.
- **Shelter:** [Dark-eyed Junco](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — Uses dense branches for nesting and cover.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring nature and don't touch plants without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify mountain ninebark?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is mountain ninebark?

100-300 cm

### How wide does mountain ninebark spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on mountain ninebark?

0.5-1 cm

### When does mountain ninebark bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is mountain ninebark edible?

No

### Is mountain ninebark toxic?

None

### What is mountain ninebark's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Jewel Cave National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jewel-cave-national-monument) — South Dakota, US · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mountain Ninebark: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-ninebark)