About

A deciduous upright bushy shrub, with glossy dark reddish-purple leaves, turning orange red colour in the autumn. Small white flowers flushed with pink appear in the summer followed by small red fruit ripening to black in the autumn.

About the genus

Physocarpus are bushy deciduous suckering shrubs with palmately lobed leaves and corymbs of small cream flowers in early summer, followed by small, bladdery brown fruits

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy, Suckering
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden

Care notes

CultivationGrows best in acidic moderately fertile, humus-rich soil but tolerate alkaline soil
PruningPruning group 2. Prune after flowering,taking a third of the older stems out
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings or by potting suckers.
Pest resistanceGenrally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus