Ninebark 'Little Devil'

Ninebark Little Devil (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May' PBR) is a little imp with small, narrow leaves in a dark purple-burgundy tone. The colour holds all season without scorching, and the bush itself looks remarkably neat and fine-textured.

This is the ninebark that fits a small garden: a low edging along a path, a block under a window, a container by the door. It flowers in April and May with pale pink corymbs that glow against the dark foliage, and needs almost no pruning to keep its shape.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: On older stems the bark peels away in long strips, so the bare shrub stays decorative right through winter.
• Dimensions: At ten years it keeps a compact 1-1.5 m in height and 1-1.5 m in width.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3).
• Flowering: In April and May the bush is covered with delicate pale pink corymbs.
• Light: It accepts full sun or partial shade, but the dark purple leaf colour holds most reliably in the 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: Care is minimal: RHS pruning group 2, right after flowering and no later than mid-August.
• Landscape use: Low borders and flower beds, hedging, city and cottage gardens, and neat masses in shrub borders.
• Origin: Registered under the cultivar epithet 'Donna May' (US patent PP22634), with Little Devil as its trade name.