Physocarpus opulifolius aka Nine Bark

Physocarpus opulifolius, also known as common ninebark, Eastern ninebark, Atlantic ninebark, or simply ninebark, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. It is closely related to the genus Spiraea and can grow up to 10 feet tall, but typically reaches 5-9 feet in height. This plant can be found growing on rocky hillsides, banks of streams, and in moist thickets, often on stream banks, riverside thickets, and scour prairies. One of the notable features of Physocarpus opulifolius is its exfoliating bark, which peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, giving it its common name of ninebark. The bark provides winter interest but is usually hidden by the foliage during the growing season. The shrub also produces small pink or white, five-petaled flowers that appear in dense, flat, rounded, 1-2 inch diameter, spirea-like clusters in late spring, which give way to drooping clusters of reddish fruit (inflated seed capsules). The leaves of Physocarpus opulifolius are usually ovate to rounded and have three to five lobes, reaching up to 4 inches in length. They are dull green in the summer and change to an undistinguished yellow in the fall. Overall, this shrub is a beautiful addition to any landscape, providing both visual interest and ecological benefits.