More favorite plants

Hello again,
Today we meet Judy Wehrmeister and her favorite plant, Physocarpus Summerwine™
A member of the Midwest team since 1996, Judy serves the Michigan and Indiana region. Her professional experiences include Inventory Control, Purchasing and Sales. She serves on the Board of Directors as Past President for the Southeast Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association. Judy earned her Associate’s degree in Landscape Technology at Oakland Community College in Rochester, Michigan.

Right now, with the deciduous plants bare, I am very attracted to bark. This may be an under-used and under-talked about characteristic of woody material that the time to enjoy is now!

One of my favorites is Physocarpus opulifolius, Common Ninebark; Summerwine™ is the name of mine. I love its bark in the winter! The varying colors (are there nine?) of the stems stand out lovely against the white background of fresh snow.

Here’s some fact from U of I Extension: 5–10 x 5–10’; hardiness zone 2-6; Full sun to partial shade; rounded with arching branches; tolerant of all soil conditions. Annual pruning is needed to keep the plant in good shape.

They produce clusters of white to off-white flowers in early summer drying to papery fruit taking on a pinkish to flesh color in mid-late summer; autumn color is a poor yellow. Can be used for specimen, border, hedge or massing.

The one in my yard is in front of some blue spruce trees. I’ve started a patch of ornamental grass and some sedum in complementary colors nearby.

Thanks again for reading!