General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best foliage color occurs in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Prune as needed immediately after bloom. If plants become gangly over time, they may be cut close to the ground in winter to rejuvenate. This plant often performs poorly in the high heat and humidity south of USDA Zone 7.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Dart’s Gold’ is a compact, mounded ninebark cultivar that typically matures to 5’ tall and as wide. It is particularly noted for its attractive yellow foliage. Ovate to rounded, usually 3-lobed, maple-like leaves (to 4” long) emerge a bright golden yellow in spring, gradually age to chartreuse/lime green by mid summer and finally turn yellow with bronze tinting in fall. Foliage is nicely complemented by small white (usually tinged with pink), five-petaled flowers that bloom in dense, flat, rounded, spiraea-like clusters (corymbs) in late spring. Plants in this genus exhibit exfoliating bark on mature branches. The bark peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, hence the common name. This interesting bark provides good winter interest but is usually hidden by the foliage during the growing season. Physocarpus comes from the Greek words physo (bladder) and karpon (fruit) in reference to the red bladder-shaped fruits that appear after flowering. ‘Dart’s Gold’ is the pollen parent of P. opulifolius ‘Center Glow’ (see C867 herein).
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Fireblight and leaf spots may occur. Reportedly has good resistance to powdery mildew.
Uses:
Site in locations where the foliage can be appreciated. Specimen or mass. Shrub borders, foundations, hedge, screen or for erosion control on banks.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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