Physocarpus, Ninebark, Purple Ninebark 'Monlo'

On Jun 4, 2013, K9Shiloh from Wellington, OH wrote:

I had this PURPLE NINEBARK for years (planted in heavy clay soil) and liked it very much but it should be named PURPLE DEER CANDY because the deer absolutely ADORE it.
To my surprise, this year the deer left it alone and it burst into bloom!! I didn't even know it was supposed to have flowers!!
The blooms are very interesting looking.

On Jan 2, 2012, CatskillDeb from Oneonta, NY (Zone 4a) wrote:

I love ninebark, and have Coppertina, Diablo (my favorite) and Dart's Gold. They ALL have been prone to powdery mildew over time for me. My strategy has been to cut the offending bush to the ground (yes, all of it). It's so vigorous that it comes back within the same season, with lovely new growth and better form (for a while). In a year or two when it mildews badly again, I chop it again. I also have a note on propagation. This shrub is very easy to root. I have had clippings (from aforementioned chopping) root in a pile of clippings and sod. Some of my shrubs are from this accidental rooting.

On May 13, 2011, keferraro from Crown Point, IN wrote:

My ninebark 'diablo' is in its forth year in a sunny location with clay soil. While it thrives, I do have to prune out a lot of dead branches in the spring and it certainly does not seem like it will get much over 4 ft by 4 ft. If I am proved wrong that will be fine but I doubt it. I prune it lightly to keep it loose but balanced. This year I dug up several seedlings and I was actually on Dave's Garden to see if they would tolerate shade as I need things to frame out my woodland garden. I may plant them and see what happens.

On Oct 23, 2010, jjh422d from South Windsor, CT (Zone 6a) wrote:

I have had a 'Diablo Ninebark' growing in my zone 5 backyard for several years, and I am a big fan of this shrub. It has nice form and looks especially nice in the spring when the abundant white flower clusters show up against the dark red foliage. I would really recommend this shrub as long as you have room for the mature size. It can be planted anywhere that an old-fashioned lilac might fit in to your landscape.

On Jul 4, 2010, gardening_pam from Keswick,
Canada wrote:

I cannot say enough good things about this shrub. I have it in a full sun location and the first year I planted it was really hot and dry. The following season it was slow. I cut it back severely (to about 8 inches) and within 2 months it was close to 2.5 feet. The following year, it put on another 2.5 feet. I keep it trimmed to about 4.5 feet, but it's been in my garden as long as I've been here. There are a lot of things that I have killed off from that first season (it was my first gardening and I had no idea what I was doing) but this ninebark looks beautiful all year and would easily fill in a hedge or a height location easily.

On May 11, 2009, swmbo64 from Franklin, WI wrote:

Planted 2 last August in well drained, average soil in semi-shaded area. Both are doing well but have not grown much in height or width since last season. Foliage is striking and bark has a birch-like appearance. Would like a substantial increase in height and width this season as am using these as a screen between ours and neighbors properties.

On Jul 15, 2007, ifonly from Brookfield, CT wrote:

In my ongoing quest for a big shrub to hide my turquoise shed (not planned - you see, it was meant to be the primer on the shed's way to dark green 10 years ago, somebody said they liked it, and so it's stayed that unintended color), Diablo came to the rescue. Its burgundy leaves - aren't they a pretty shape? - stand out well against the, ahem, shed. A New Dawn that was meant to be moved, and wasn't, has peaked out among Diablo's branches. New Dawn had only a few blooms and they were gorgeous among the burgundy leaves. I'm thinkin' Diablo and the rose are meant to be together. A little repositioning and better care of the rose and next year may just be spectacular.

On May 30, 2007, northgrass from West Chazy, NY (Zone 4b) wrote:

A very desirable shrub, it has good form, is very hardy and does not seems to a have many pests and diseases.
Its foliage is a bronzy purple and remains so through the season. It is said to grow to 8'.

Update: After having this plant for a few years, I found that mildew is a major problem as time goes by, it is necessary to prune it severely. Also, older stems have a tendency to die off, it does not age gracefully, I am not nearly as enthusiastic about this shrub as I first was, there are better choice for dark foliage plant, cotinus coggyria for example..

On Jun 19, 2006, gonedutch from Fairport, NY wrote:

Both the purple and standard green species of Ninebark seem to have no predator insects or fungi. Throughout the growing season this carefree plant provides a welcome contrast with its colorfull foliage, flowers and seed pods (see image). In winter its arching branches provide architectural interest.

On Dec 9, 2005, bigcityal from Appleton, WI (Zone 5a) wrote:

I am coming back to update my comments to say that this plant has been seen to get borer in different sites around this area.
I have now also seen a seedling come up from off my plant.

On Aug 26, 2005, flowercrazy39 from Manchester, NH wrote:

I also love this plant! This is my third year with it and have one on each end of my yard to flank a fence. I trimmed a few of the "elephant" branches back after they bloomed and it looks great! Grows quickly and stays beautiful with no fuss.

On Jan 9, 2005, DryGulch from Wild Rose, WI (Zone 5a) wrote:

This is a large shrub that should be more widely grown. It is wonderful all seasons of the year. The flower seedpods are beautiful dried (a red burgundy) and good in fall arrangements. The bark has a striated look as it ages. Leaf color is a deep burgundy. Grows quickly and does well in dry, sandy soil.