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Physocarpus opulifolius

Common name:	Ninebark	Family:	Rosaceae
Author:	(L.)Maxim.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:	Spiraea opulifolia (L.), Physocarpus stellatus ((Rydb.)Rehder.), Neillia opulifolia ((L.)Brewer.&S.Watson.)
Known Hazards:	Large medicinal doses can be toxic[257].
Range:	Central and Eastern N. America - Quebec to South Carolina, west to Alabama, Arkansas and Minnesota.
Habitat:	Banks of streams[222].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Opulaster alabamensis[B,P] Opulaster australis[B,P] Opulaster opulifolius[B,P] Opulaster stellatus[B,P] P. opulifolius f. nanus[G] P. opulifolius var. opulifolius[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Atlantic Ninebark [B], Common Ninebark [P], Ninebark [E],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Rosales. Rose family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Us

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 3m by 4m . It is hardy to zone 2. It is in flower from June to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Emetic; Infertility; Laxative; Women's complaints.

A tea made from the inner bark is laxative and emetic[222, 257]. It is used internally to treat women's complaints, gonorrhoea, TB and to enhance fertility[222, 257]. It is also used as a wash on scrofulous glands in the neck[257]. Some caution is advised, this herb is best used only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. See the notes above on toxicity.

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers an acid soil, quickly becoming chlorotic when growing on shallow chalk[200]. Succeeds in a moist moderately fertile soil in full sun[200].
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[200].
There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[200].
Flowers are produced on the previous year's growth[11].
A useful plant for rough shrubberies where plants are more or less left to look after themselves[11].

Propagation

Seed - we do not have any information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible in a cold frame. If sown in the spring it is likely to require a period of cold stratification. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of suckers in the dormant season.
Cuttings of greenwood, June in a closed frame[200].

Cultivars

'': There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[V] Images from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Spiraea opulifolia (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for physocarpus opulifolius (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.