Ninebark 'Diable D'Or'

Ninebark Diable d'Or (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Mindia' PBR) is a "golden devil" that flares up every spring with copper-orange young leaves, darkening to red-purple by summer. Against that dark background, pinkish-white corymbs open in April and May.

This is a cultivar for big gestures: a tall informal hedge, the back of a mixed border, or a specimen on the lawn. It is noticeably larger than the dwarf Little Devil from the same group, gives its richest colour in full sun, and is happiest on acidic, humus-rich soil.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: Unlike the plain species, it barely suckers and stands up well to powdery mildew.
• Dimensions: At ten years it forms a dense bush 1-1.5 m tall and 1-1.5 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3).
• Flowering: In April and May pinkish-white corymbs open and glow against the dark foliage.
• Light: It grows in full sun or partial shade, but the copper-purple leaf colour is richest in the open sun.
• Soil: It shows best in acidic, moderately fertile, humus-rich soil; it tolerates alkaline ground too, though chlorosis may appear there.
• Watering: Watering is moderate, from dry to medium; it takes drought and dry rocky soils in its stride.
• Care: It responds willingly to RHS pruning group 2, right after flowering; an old bush is rejuvenated in spring by cutting it back close to the ground.
• Landscape use: Hedges and screens, flower beds and borders, city and cottage gardens, and striking masses in shrub borders.
• Origin: The cultivar 'Mindia' came from crossing the yellow-leaved 'Dart's Gold' with the dark 'Monlo' (Diabolo); US patent PP16,371, 2006.