Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Potentially Toxic
Woody shrub. Native to Eastern U.S. and Canada. The Ninebark
loves stream banks, and is a handsome addition to the streamside, waterfall,
pond or waterway. The flowers are large, handsome and white, giving
way to inflated seedpods. The bark peels from the trunk in thin,
decorative quills that self-mulch the plant. The inner bark was a
Native American female remedy, used externally for treating glandular swellings
and in low-dose as a weak tea for treating venereal disease and to enhance
fertility. Overdose is purgative and potentially dangerous. Cultivation:
Sow seeds in early spring and keep moist until germ. 2 weeks
of cold conditioning may assist. Keep plants in gallon pots for a
year before transplanting. Prefers partial shade.
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