# ninebarks (*Physocarpus*) Ninebark is a fun shrub with many branches that look like they have bark peeling off. It has pretty flowers in spring and colorful leaves in fall, making it a great plant for gardens! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Ninebark, Ninebark Bush, Ninebark Spiraea ![ninebarks](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424397/objects/4100.jpg) ## Appearance The ninebarks has uniquely peeling bark that sheds in papery strips, revealing multiple layers of reddish-brown to cinnamon colors. Its clusters of small white to pinkish flowers bloom in spring, followed by striking red fruit, while lobed green leaves often display vibrant fall colors. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Physocarpus ## Interesting facts - Its small, balloon-like fruits pop open to release tiny seeds! - Many varieties have stunning dark purple or gold leaves all summer long! - Native American tribes used parts of the plant for traditional medicine. - Ninebarks is a favorite plant for creating natural privacy hedges! ## Special abilities - **Barky Layers:** ninebarks has fascinating peeling bark that sheds in papery strips, helping it adapt to temperature changes and resist disease. - **Resilient Roots:** ninebarks can grow in tough spots like poor soil and urban pollution, helping it survive where many other plants struggle. - **Thicket Creator:** ninebarks forms dense, bushy growth, providing excellent shelter and nesting sites for birds and small animals to stay safe. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar from its abundant flowers. - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on its leaves and twigs. - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — builds nests within its dense, protective branches. - **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — consumes the small seeds from its autumn fruits. ## 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. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring and don't touch plants unless you're sure they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify ninebarks? 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 ninebarks? 150-300 cm ### How wide does ninebarks spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on ninebarks? 0.5-1 cm ### When does ninebarks bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is ninebarks edible? No ### Is ninebarks toxic? Mild ### What is ninebarks's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park ## Watch - [Play video: ninebarks](https://www.snappit.app/videos/ninebarks) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=6-eIIWiNDy4) ## 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*) --- Source: [Ninebarks: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ninebarks)