Virginia Tech Dendrology

ninebark Rosaceae Physocarpus capitatus (Pursh) Kuntze symbol: PHCA11
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, maple-like, palmately lobed (3 to 5 pointed lobes); almost circular in outline, 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter; dark green above and paler below, somewhat pubescent.
Flower: Perfect, small (1/2 inch) white flowers borne in dense, upright, hemispherical clusters, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Small (1/4 inch long) brown follicles borne in dense, upright hemispherical clusters.
Twig: Slender and orange-brown; young twigs have tight bark but on older twigs the bark splits and exfoliates in long strips.
Bark: Thin and yellow- or orange-brown; shredded and exfoliating in long strips, especially on older stems.
Form: A large erect shrub to 12 feet tall.
Looks like: mallow ninebark - mountain ninebark - common ninebark - vine maple

Additional Range Information: Physocarpus capitatus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information