Physocarpus opulifolius 'Angel Gold'

ninebark [Angel Gold]

A bushy shrub up to 2m tall with yellow to yellow-green lobed leaves flushed copper in the spring. Clusters of white flowers are followed by red fruits maturing to purple

SynonymsPhysocarpus opulifolius 'Minange'PBR
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Angel Gold'

Botanical details

Family

Rosaceae

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Suckering

Genus

Physocarpus are bushy deciduous suckering shrubs with palmately lobed leaves and corymbs of small cream flowers in early summer, followed by small, bladdery brown fruits

Physocarpus opulifolius Angel Gold ('Minange'PBR)|ninebark [Angel Gold]/RHS Gardening

Noteworthy Characteristics

Physocarpus opulifolius, commonly called ninebark, is an upright, spreading, somewhat coarse, deciduous, Missouri-native shrub which is closely related to the genus Spiraea. In Missouri, it typically occurs along streams, rocky banks, gravel bars and in moist thickets, especially in counties south of the Missouri River (Steyermark). Grows 5-9’ tall (less frequently to 10’). Noted for its exfoliating bark (on mature branches) which peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark (hence the common name of ninebark). Bark provides winter interest, but is usually hidden by the foliage during the growing season. Features small pink or white, five-petaled flowers appearing in dense, flat, rounded, 1-2” diameter, spirea-like clusters (corymbs) in late spring. Flowers give way to drooping clusters of reddish fruit (inflated seed capsules). Ovate to rounded, usually 3-5 lobed leaves (to 4” long) are dull green in summer changing to an undistinguished yellow in fall.

Genus name comes from the Greek physa meaning a bladder and karpos meaning fruit, referring to the inflated dry fruits of the plant.

Specific epithet refers to the leaves that resemble those of Viburnum opulus.

Common name of ninebark is in reference to its ornamental attractive exfoliating bark.

‘Dart’s Gold’ is a compact, mounded ninebark cultivar that typically matures to 5’ tall and as wide. It is particularly noted for its attractive yellow foliage. Ovate to rounded, usually 3-lobed, maple-like leaves (to 4” long) emerge a bright golden yellow in spring, gradually age to chartreuse/lime green by mid summer and finally turn yellow with bronze tinting in fall. Foliage is nicely complemented by small white (usually tinged with pink), five-petaled flowers that bloom in dense, flat, rounded, spiraea-like clusters (corymbs) in late spring. Plants in this genus exhibit exfoliating bark on mature branches. The bark peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, hence the common name. This interesting bark provides good winter interest but is usually hidden by the foliage during the growing season. 'Dart’s Gold’ is the pollen parent of P. opulifolius ‘Center Glow’.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold' - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)