Spicy Devil Ninebark Is a Colorful Small Native Shrub
A compact ninebark, at 4 feet.
Spicy Devil ninebark is a great drought-resistant structural shrub that lends interest spring through fall. Its disease-resistant leaves provide vibrant color spring through fall and its pinkish white flowers are a draw for pollinators. Smaller than older ninebark cultivars, Spicy Devil is sized right for a spot near first-floor windows or among flowering perennials. It can also be planted in multiples for an informal, four-foot-tall deciduous hedge.
Common name: Spicy Devil ninebark
Botanical name: Physocarpus opulifolius 'ZLENatalie'
Exposure: Full sun
Flowers: Rounded clusters of flowers line the stems in late spring, opening white and darkening to rosy pink. Pollinators visit ninebark flowers, and decorative reddish-brown seed capsules follow the bloom.
Foliage: The foliage of Spicy Devil is similar in shape to that of other ninebarks, but it is smaller, keeping in proportion with its more compact size. The leaves emerge orange and yellow in spring, darken a bit for summer and finally turn a vibrant reddish-purple color for fall. Most importantly this ninebark cultivar is very resistant to powdery mildew, so its foliage remains bright and appealing throughout the summer.
Related: Read about a compact ninebark with lemon-lime foliage: Physocarpus opulifolius 'Raspberry Lemonade'.
Habit: Spicy Devil ninebark is a deciduous shrub that grows three to four feet tall and wide, with an upright, vase-shaped habit.
Origin: The species Physocarpus opulifolius is native to stream banks, hillsides and wood edges across much of the eastern half of the United States. The cultivar Spicy Devil was introduced to the gardening market by Bailey Nurseries in 2023 as part of its First Editions line of woody plants.
How to grow it: Ninebarks are easy to grow, low-maintenance shrubs. They prefer full sun and moderate water, but they can withstand drought once established and also can adapt to wetter soil. Given its compact size, Spicy Devil ninebark should not require pruning, but if it does, prune it right after it blooms. It is hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 7.
Images courtesy of Bailey Nurseries
