Guelder rose vs Ninebark

Guelder rose and Ninebark are often considered for the same spot in the garden (flowers, hedge, screening, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Guelder rose

Viburnum opulus 3 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A fast-growing, large native shrub with lobed, maple-like leaves, flat white lacecap flowers in May and June, red autumn foliage and glossy red…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 320

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius 2.5 m × 2 m after 10 years

An undemanding, fast-growing deciduous shrub with arching branches, rounded clusters of white or pinkish flowers in May and June and reddish, inflated…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 60

Key differences

Guelder rose grows larger: 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years, against 2.5 m × 2 m for Ninebark.
Ninebark tolerates drought better than Guelder rose.
Ninebark needs less water than Guelder rose.
Ninebark needs less care than Guelder rose.

Which one to choose?

Ninebark is the better choice if you cannot water regularly or you have little time for care.

Watch out for

Guelder rose

Viburnum leaf beetle larvae in late spring and the adult beetles in late summer chew the leaves to lace, and guelder rose is among the most susceptible species: repeated defoliation year after year weakens the shrub and in bad cases can kill it. In winter cut off and destroy shoot tips showing rows of small capped egg pits, and pick off larvae in spring. Black aphids regularly curl the shoot tips. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe the foliage scorches and drops early without watering.

Ninebark

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.

The data side by side

Feature	Guelder rose	Ninebark
Group	Shrub	Shrub
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m	2.5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	3–5 m × 2.5–4.5 m	1.5–3 m × 1.2–3 m
Growth rate	Fast (uncertain)	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -45 °C (USDA 2, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	no data	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, white	May–June, white, pink
Water need	High	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	High
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	200 cm	150 cm
For children	Mildly toxic	no data
Typical price	about CZK 700 (40–60 cm)	approx. CZK 120

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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