Isn't this just the coolest bush? What you're looking at are the flowers on a 'Summer Wine' Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). It's a shrub that I purchased a few years ago from Blue Moon Nursery.
The Ninebarks that most of us are familiar with are native plants that have green leaves and creamy-white flower clusters in the spring. I have a few of those elsewhere in my landscape and really like them as well.
However, 'Summer Wine' is a hybrid with bronze leaves and flower clusters that begin life as a pale pink that changes to a dusty rose. The flowers last quite a long time and are absolutely gorgeous!
It grows fairly quickly and does not have any insect pests that I've noticed. It's a deciduous shrub that will reach about 6 feet in height and is hardy down to USDA zone 3. Since our garden is located in zone 4B, that's something I really appreciate. The plants don't require any special pruning or care, yet they grow beautifully year after year.
Ninebark tolerates most soil types and just needs an average amount of water, although it is considered drought-tolerant once it has become established. This means you would want to water it regularly during the first couple of years after it's been planted, then you can ease off on the water.
I think it makes a great addition to our landscape.
