How big does Ninebark grow?

About 2.5 m × 2 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 1.5–3 m × 1.2–3 m.

What soil does Ninebark grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Hardy down to -45 °C (USDA zone 2, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Ninebark be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Ninebark be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2 plants per metre.

When does Ninebark flower?

Flowering: May–June, white, pink.

How much water does Ninebark need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Ninebark cost?

It sells for roughly €4.50 to €180 in local shops, depending on size.

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is a shrub that reaches 2.5 m × 2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -45 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €4.50.

Illustration of Ninebark — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An undemanding, fast-growing deciduous shrub with arching branches, rounded clusters of white or pinkish flowers in May and June and reddish, inflated seed heads afterwards; gardens mostly grow its purple and yellow-leaved cultivars. It grows in sun or part shade in almost any soil and takes drought and city conditions in its stride, so it works well as a loose hedge, a screen or in a shrub border. Prune it after flowering, and an old, tired bush can be cut right down to rejuvenate it.

Watch out for

Powdery mildew is the most common problem: a white coating on the shoot tips, mainly on dark-leaved cultivars and where the shrub stands crowded, airless or too shaded. Give it air and cut out infected tips. As a member of the rose family it can also catch fireblight, and leaf spots and cankers turn up occasionally. On shallow, very chalky soil the leaves can turn yellow.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -45 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white, pink

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3 m × 1.2–3 m
Hardiness	down to -45 °C (USDA 2, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, white, pink
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €4.50

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
30-60 cm	approx. €16
60-100 cm	approx. €37
100-150 cm	approx. €65
150-200 cm	approx. €180
size not stated	approx. €4.50 – €20

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Hedge plants Plants for screening Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

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