Physocarpus opulifolius Little Ninja

Physocarpus opulifolius Little Ninja, known by its cultivar name 'GRDark01', is a modest-sized variety with particularly dark, almost black foliage. This Physocarpus opulifolius with sapwood leaves forms a small, well-branched, bushy shrub, covered with attractive, shiny, dark purple leaves, with violet and brown reflections, which, from a short distance, give the impression of black foliage. Its white flowering in early summer in the form of numerous small corymbs creates a superb contrast. Requiring little maintenance, this Physocarpus is undemanding and tolerates any type of soil in full sun or partial shade.

Physocarpus opulifolius belongs to the large family of Rosaceae, which includes most of our temperate fruit trees, many wild plants, and numerous ornamental genera such as roses. It is native to North America, where it is found naturally in a wide geographical area, covering a wide diversity of soils and climates. This explains its great adaptability and its ornamental interest, as the species already has quite decorative foliage. However, it is somewhat neglected in favour of different cultivars with coloured, variegated, golden, orange, purple or almost black foliage.

Little Ninja is a variety of coloured, almost black foliage. This small bushy shrub reaches 90 cm to 1 m in height and 70 to 80 cm in width at maturity. Its vegetation is relatively dense, carried by branches that grow in all directions, giving it a beautiful appearance in winter when the leaves have fallen, exposing its decorative brown bark, which peels over time. The medium-sized leaves, about 6-8 cm long and 4-5 cm wide, are trilobed, with each lobe slightly toothed. Their evocative shape gives this shrub the nickname of Physocarpus with sapwood leaf. The flowering usually extends from May to June and takes the form of white corymbs, in the shape of domes, about 4-5 cm in diameter. They consist of a cluster of small flowers with five petals and protruding stamens, which are loved by pollinating insects. They then develop into quite decorative red fruits, appreciated by birds in autumn when the vegetation takes on a superb orange hue, contrasting well with the small fruits.

This shrub is useful for wildlife, extremely cold-resistant and tolerates pruning, which is not necessary. It only dislikes heatwaves and drought. Pair it with yellow-leaved shrubs for strong colour contrasts, such as Acer palmatum 'Summer Gold'. At its base, you can plant some perennial geraniums or Heucheras, with foliage that showcases almost all colours, along the edge of the flower bed.