An easygoing shrub with superlative color and form
Friends say that I never meet a plant I did n’t wish . That may be truthful , but my deep respect is reserved for precious few in Flora ’s realm . One is purple - leave Eastern ninebark ( Physocarpus opulifolius‘Diablo ’ , syn . ‘ Monlo ’ and ‘ Diabolo ’ ) . This arresting multistemmed deciduous shrub has it all : greatest color , invoke anatomy , and good looks that last all year long . It ’s adaptable in term of grease conditions and is drouth repellent and well-situated to grow , which it does thirstily and , well yet , quickly .
The main claim to renown for ‘ Diablo ’ ( which means “ devil ” in Spanish ) is the deep burgundy color of its maple-like foliage . It bears the most deep hued parting of any woody industrial plant in my garden . And unlike the others , it does n’t get green with the onset of summer passion and humidity in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6 Connecticut garden — though farther to the south it might . rather , the leaves on mine are almost black by summer solstice . That color veers toward bronzy red by the time the leave fall in later November .
‘ Diablo ’ also has an recherche form , like a staring outpouring . Plants hand 10 feet high and 10 feet wide in four or five years . But if you postulate a smaller specimen , cutting ‘ Diablo ’ to the ground in former spring will result in a flush of even darker leafage and , of line , a more summary bush .
Even in wintertime ‘ Diablo ’ has something to add . Like its parent — unmixed oldPhysocarpus opulifolius — the barque of this German option of a North American native exfoliates in so many layer that it was nickname ninebark . ‘ Diablo ’ also boasts pink - tinged white flowers , which appear in June in clusters about 2 inches across . I like them considerably as they go to seed and redden .
This shrub ’s foliage really pays the rent in a mixed border , serve as the staring enhancer for anything gold , pink , or silver . dispirited looks good against it , too , as do chartreuse and red . ‘ Diablo ’ would also make an outstanding hedge . Plants favor well - drained , acidulent filth in full sun , but mine , which is in lightly amend clay and part sun , is no slacker . It ’s tell to stick out poor stain and thrive in Zones 3 to 7 . It has won loads of laurels , from the Royal Horticultural Society and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society , among others . In other words , this ‘ Diablo ’ is a saint .
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Diablo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolis‘Monlo’, Zones 3–7) is a large and impressive shrub, and would do best planted away from the house.Photo: Michelle Gervais
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