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common ninebark Rosaceae Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim., orth. cons. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: PHOP
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, blunt serrated margin; dark green above and paler below.
Flower: Perfect, small (1/2 inch) white to faint pink flowers borne in dense, upright, hemispherical clusters, appearing in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Small (1/4 inch long) pointed follicles borne in dense, upright hemispherical clusters, initially they are red and later turning a bright reddish brown.
Twig: Slender and red-brown; young twigs have tight bark but on older twigs the bark splits and exfoliates in long strips; buds with many obvious loose scales, leaf scars raised with lines running downward angling the twigs.
Bark: Thin and yellow-, orange-, or red-brown; shredded and exfoliating in long strips, especially on older stems, fairly attractive.
Form: A large erect shrub to 10 feet tall.
 Looks like: ninebark - mallow ninebark - mountain ninebark - red maple

common ninebark leaf image
common ninebark flower image
common ninebark fruit image
common ninebark twig image
common ninebark bark image
common ninebark form image
common ninebark map image

Additional Range Information: Physocarpus opulifolius is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 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