Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Diablo Nine Bark

Member Cyn writes a followup~
I went back to where I purchased the "Diablo Dark Bark" to see if they could give me more info. Guess what...the plant was mislabeled. Now they're telling me it's a "Diablo Nine Bark". I have it planted in a big whiskey barrel at the moment. It's under 3 feet high, but seems to be doing quite well, even in the heat. However, if it's something that will grow quite tall, I'll have to move it. Hopefully you'll have a better search this time.

Still no info on this name. I wonder if they made it up. No book nor Internet search has turned up any info. I am going to a website and post the question. If I get a good response, I will post it here for you.

Followup: "Diablo Nine Bark" or "Diablo Dark Bark"

I have just used this plant for the first time this year. Love the dark leaves and it even get a little white flower in spring. So far it is doing well near the beach here in Connecticut. I believe it will grow to 5-6'. If in container make sure you water often. In the ground I think it is drought tolerant. I bought Ninebark or Physocarpis is botanical name. My nursery is trying it for first time and wants me to tell him how it works.

Ninebark: Member of the Rosaceae family genus of 10 species of deciduous shrubs occurring in thickets and on rocky slopes in E. Asia and North America. They have peeling bark alternate, ovate to rounded or kidney-shaped, palmately lobed, mid-or dark green leaves. They are cultivated for their foliage and dense, terminal corymbs of small, cup shaped white flowers, borne in early summer. grow in a shrub border.

PHYSOCARPUS- Grow in preferably acidic, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. May become chlorotic if grown in alkaline soil.

Greenwood cuttings in summer. Remove rooted suckers in autumn or spring. Leaf spots, fireblight, powdery mildew and witches broom sometimes occur. (whatever witches broom is?)

P. opulifolius (ninebark) Compact thicket forming, arching branches, broadly ovate, 3 lobed, doubly toothed, pinkish white flowers followed by clusters of bladder like green flushed red fruit 10 ft high 15 ft wide. Zones 3-7 or Darts Gold has bright yellow foliage. 6 ft high 8 ft wide and P.momogynus (mountain ninebark) upright compact, same as above but flowers are rosy color. Container specimen here 24 to 36 inches both high and wide. Wyoming, South Dakota to New Mexico and Texas, zones 5-8.

From Deborah and Totlook at AskMe.com