Physocarpus opulifolius Amber Jubilee - Ninebark

The Physocarpus opulifolius 'Amber Jubilee', is a recent cultivar resulting from the cross-breeding between 'Diabolo' and 'Dart's gold'. It is bushy and dense, remarkable for its foliage which turns from bronze orange to yellow and green, then tinged with red and purple in autumn. It is not without charm in the winter, when its bark exfoliates in beige plates on a dark brown background.

The Physocarpus opulifolius 'Amber Jubilee' belongs to the Rosaceae family and is native to the eastern United States, from Quebec to Manitoba. The growth of this bush is medium to fast and its adult size will not exceed 1.5m (4.92 ft) to 2m (6.56 ft) by 1.50m (4.92 ft) wide.
The 'Amber Jubilee' is a small deciduous, highly branched bush with an initially upright, dense habit that becomes arching with age. Remarkable for its amber-coloured shoots in spring, the foliage turns green in summer and then purple in autumn. The leaves are lobed, deeply cut, crenate and measure from 3 to 8cm (1.2 - 3.1in). From spring to early summer, clusters of small white or pink flowers appear. They are followed by very unique red fruits appreciated by birds in autumn. The bush remains decorative in winter, with its bark exfoliating in beige to reddish-brown plates.

Plant Physocarpus opulifolius 'Amber Jubilee' in deep, rich and moist, neutral to acidic, humus-bearing soil. Avoid letting the soil dry out in summer and shower the foliage during heatwaves. This bush will thrive in partial shade or full sun, but the colours will be more pronounced if planted in a sunny location. Thin out dense plants by severely cutting back some of the arching stems after flowering. This may encourage the development of new flower buds in late summer. The physocarpus tends to produce numerous suckers, to the detriment of the mother plant; it may be useful to prune it back to give it a denser appearance.


The 'Amber Jubilee' will look good in borders, to contrast with bushes with light foliage. It will be charming in a mixed hedge, in the company of spireas (Spirea arguta, Spirea x billardii), viburnums (Viburnum carlesii 'Chesapeake', Viburnum x bodnantense), dwarf winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus compactus) or a Neillia (Neillia affinis). To accompany its changing colours, Heucheras or Heucherellas can be planted at its base.

The name of the Physocarpus opulifolius comes from the Greek 'phusa' which means air bubble or vesicle, and 'karpos' which refers to the fruit, in reference to its shape. The resemblance of its foliage to that of the Guelder rose earned it its specific name "opulifolius". Introduced to Europe around 1687, the numerous cultivars that have been created in recent years have allowed it to make a strong comeback in gardens.