Purple Ninebark...Require pollinator?

I obtained a Purple Ninebark to plant in my quest to reforest part of my lawn with attractive trees and shrubs. Now I am wondering, does it need a pollinator to produce berries? I am remembering what Viburnium Valley told me about Viburnium and why mine don't produce fruit. If I need a pollinator I need to hurry up and order because it will be too hot for optimal planting soon.

You don't need a pollinator.

Nothing you can do will ever make a ninebark have berries, not even perfect pollination . . . its fruit is a dry follicle, not a berry ;-)

Resin

Thanks!
I have a lot to learn, for sure!

I just love it when people know that the possesive form of it has no apostrophe..................as Resin used it above.

Edited per grammar mistake.

Scott

This message was edited Apr 12, 2007 4:21 PM

Around here, straight species Physocarpus opilofolius is a magnet for songbirds in fall because of its fruit. The birds really love those little seedheads. If you plant enough of it, it also provides decent shelter and cover for numerous species of wildlife from birds to mammals. She's probably got 'Diabolo' which is a cultivar and I don't know what, if any, value the seedheads would have to birds. The straight species are rated as having fair energy and protein values but cultivars don't always enjoy the same ratings. The birds around here do eat the seedheads from the Diabolos but maybe only because they are planted around the base of a birdfeeder so they're easy to find? I never paid attention to when they ate them... at the same time they ate the seeds from the straight species or after?

I've got a strange question about 'Diabolo' because I planted a few as ornamentals. My leaves are losing their nice deep purple over the past few years. Any ideas why this might be happening? Too much shade?

Too much shade is generally the problem, it could be a nutrient deficiency, but I doubt it.

Pssst, the birds don't know if it's a cultivar or not, they will eat the seeds if they appeal to them, when/if they are available.

I've never grown ninebark though I did a lot of research before ordering Summerwine last winter. I read an article written by someone who has been growing Diablo for years stating that hotter and humid climates can cause the leaves to fade to a summer green. The summers here can be quite hot and humid. I guess that I'll soon find out. Do the seedheads on your Diablo start out a gorgeous crimson fading to mahagony?

Oh that's interesting. Particularly since I planted Summerwine just last year.

You may have hit it on the head greenbrain-

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/phyopu/phyopu1.html

Oh, my gosh! I love that link too. I often keep it open in one tab, while having Mo Bot Garden in another, and davesgarden in another; along with some other sites that I keep open a lot for reference. That's the feature I love about XP--the tabs.

I actually read this when trying to decide which ninebark cultivar to order, but couldn't remember why I had originally decided on "Dart's Gold" and finally settled for "Summerwine". Thanks for pointing this out.

Betty : )

This message was edited Apr 14, 2007 3:11 PM

BUT it says "It may be pruned harshly each spring to promote vigorous shoots with large, highly-colored leaves", so I guess it just depends on how much work you want to do to keep it purple. Of course, that may not be an issue this spring, LOL. Do you have 'Summerwine' Betty? Mine started to leaf out, then wilted, but seems to be recovering nicely. One of the parents is 'Diablo'.

You are welcome greenbrain.

Wanna talk about tabs greenbrain? Try the new Vista OS that is here to stay in place of XP.

Glad you picked the 'Summerwine' over the other cultivars in that I found a reference that its color is actually enhanced by hot and humid.

My shrubs; incl. the 'Summerwine'; are coming from Bluestone Perennials & are scheduled to be shipped end of April. Thank goodness because I'm not at all ready for planting. I have a few others; incl. some bamboo; coming from MO Wildflower Nursery with no expected shipping date. I'm hoping they come about the same time.

I probably read that 'Summerwine' handles the humidity well and just forgot. I did an enormous amount of research before ordering any of my plants. I finally had to make up my mind from fear of not getting my orders timely.

My DH is a pc tech (really comes in handy), so he'll eventually get around to upgrading my pc.

This message was edited Apr 14, 2007 9:40 PM

Bluestone Perennials is a nice quality nursery. I've ordered from them before and was very pleased.

You might want to hold off on upgrading to Vista until they come out with a service pack or something for it. Vista might not be for people who aren't techs right now.

I have some rooted 'Diablo' cuttings about the same size as you'll get from Bluestone. If anyone is interested in a trade, Dmail me.

SB

It is the "coppertina" cultivar. I found it at Forest Farm. I can't wait to see its color. It is just breaking dormancy.

So is my Summerwine passiflora pink, and it's coloring up nicely already. Did you plant from a container or cutting, and how big is your plant? (Just curious, that has nothing to do with the color).

It was in a 1 gallon container. Most trees and shrubs in my hard are in full leaf but this one came from Oregon probably was in cold storage there; it is about 4 feet high...taller than I would expect to get in the mail! I was very pleased. They say they do propagate their own plants so maybe they leaf out a little later in Oregon than in Alabama.

I got a gift certificate for Christmas for this company...the prices are good though the shipping can be steep because they dont' sell bareroot. Here is the one I bought, just $12.

http://www.forestfarm.com/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=phop011

Wow I hope my Summerwine gets those showy red seed capsules, I almost think they look better than the flowers!

I was also very impressed with Forest Farm until I calculated the total cost with shipping. Not that I believe they're unfair. I would really like to order from them, but my budget doesn't allow it. I emptied my shopping cart & went elsewhere. I decided to stick with nurseries east of the Rockies for now.

I'm glad that all went well for you. I forgot all about the Coppertina. So many cultivars to chose from. No wonder I couldn't make up my mind.

I'll send pix when the color comes out. I did order several "tubes" of plants from FF which are much more economical to buy and ship. They are in great shape and since I don't plan on moving in the forseeable future then I can watch these smaller plants grow into the places I have chosen. Not to mention that the small ones are much easier to get into the ground!

I just got my shipping confirmation from Bluestone Perennials. Expected arrival: Thurs., 4/19. Looks like I'll be planting my 'Summerwine' in a few days; along with all the other shrubs that I ordered.