Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
1) Ninebark ‘Center Glow’ has American Heritage
2) Doesn’t need irrigation (once established
3) Looks great without pruning (more time to have fun)
4) Shrugs off summer heat and winter cold (wish I could say the same)
5) It likes Missouri clay soils (thank heavens we have so many plants that like it here)
6) It has a wide range pH tolerance ( stop the uphill battle-accept what we have)
7) Amazing foliage and great fall color ( that holds up spring till autumn - not like the old gold ninebark cultivars with thin leaf foliaged that wore out before it fell off)
8) Barbie doll bouquets of “blush” white flowers (nice size for individual plate floral arrangements!)
9) Non-messy dry fruit-seed heads loved by birds ( and not hated by my husband)
PLUS A FEW MORE
10) Beautiful dark stems in winter (that eventually develops a sexy strip act-good, mine is too hormonal and heat flash related- not meant for viewing!)
11) Butterflies like the flowers (and I like butterflies AND flowers-imagine that)
Wet and/or Dry- It can be used in rain gardens that dry up in the summer (just wondering if anyone has had to water their rain garden THIS year?)
12)Not preferred by or significantly phased by occasional deer or rabbit browsing (apparently this is like my cooking- available but seldom selected as an option)
13) Recovers well from amateur pruning efforts (I know this from personal experience-I did move but not especially because of my husband’s poor pruning technique on THIS plant)
My favorite Ninebark is Physocarpus ‘Center Glow’ ((P.o.’Centre Glow’is spelled both ways) He originates from our wonderful American Beauty Physocarpus opulifolius which thrives in the lower Midwest.
His foliage begins its show of color when the first leaves unfurl displaying a striking green gold. The burgundy color migrates from the outside edge of the leaves inward toward the heart of the leaf, stopping instinctively as if Mother Nature has given an invisible paintbrush her nod, leaving the characteristic center of the leaf a bright gold.
Growing with vigor, P. ‘Center Glow’ repeats the coloring process as new leaves continue to emerge and the first leaf’s color deepens with age. All season this shrub has a constant dynamic appeal that increases as autumn arrives. The leaves take on an extremely bright scarlet color and remain intact till late fall. Eventually they slip to the ground, revealing dark red-black mahogany and gray branches.
Over time, P. ‘Center Glow’ shrugs off layers of his thin skinned bark, allowing the wind to think, it has won- but it didn’t! The real winners are the homeowner and landscapers that use this selection of ninebark in their most "has to be good" primo site locations!
copyright 2010 / MaryAnn Fink
['Center Glow' was bred by Harold Pellett, executive director of the nonprofit Landscape Plant Development Center in Mound, Minn. He is a committed and passionate plantsman. He cares greatly about “every day pretty”, our environment, sustainability and the ornamental value of horticulture to a community, and all its residents.] photo by Landscape Plant Development Center
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment