Physocarpus opulifolius Angel Gold

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Angel Gold' Minange is a new variety of Ninebark with a beautiful golden-yellow foliage, gradually turning golden-yellow at maturity, a very bright colour that is quite sun-resistant and will last until the end of the season. Like all Ninebarks, it also offers a lovely white flowering in June, followed by small decorative light red fruits until autumn. Perfectly hardy, it tolerates slightly dry and chalky soils, making it suitable for most regions. Add a touch of golden light to your flowerbeds or country hedges, associate it with red or dark foliage! Once well established, this variety requires little maintenance.

Physocarpus opulifolius belongs to the Rosaceae family, it is native to the eastern United States, up to Quebec and Manitoba. The 'Angel Gold' Ninebark from which it originates was introduced by Minier nurseries in 2008. It is a deciduous, ramified shrub, with an upright and bushy habit. Its growth is fast and its adult size can reach, under good growing conditions, 3m (9ft 10in) in height and 2m in width. It is remarkable for the coloration of its leaves which emerge in a yellow shade tinged with copper orange, then become copper yellow when they unfold, before turning golden yellow, transforming this Ninebark into a luminous mass that stands out in the garden. The leaves are lobed, deeply cut, serrated and measure from 3 to 8cm (1.2 to 3.1in). From spring to early summer, flattened corymbs appear with buds that open into small white flowers with pink stamens, nectar-rich. They are followed by light red fruits appreciated by birds in autumn. The shrub remains decorative in winter, with its bark exfoliating into beige to reddish-brown flakes.

The 'Angel Gold' Ninebark will find its place in flowerbeds, in contrast with shrubs with red or dark foliage such as purple Barberries, 'Black Lace' Elderberry or 'Lady in Red' or 'All Black' Ninebarks. It will be charming in a mixed hedge, accompanied by Spireas (Spirea arguta, Spirea x billardii), viburnums (Viburnum carlesii 'Chesapeake', Viburnum x bodnantense), compact winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus 'Compactus') or a Neillia (Neillia affinis) that it will illuminate. To accompany its luminous foliage, purple Heucheras or Heucherellas, for example, can be planted at its base. It will also make a great impact when planted in a container on a terrace or balcony.

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