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Rosaceae FAMILY

Physocarpus opulifolius

Physocarpus opulifolius

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
1/5

Safety & Hazards

Large medicinal doses can be toxic[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Shrub
Growth—

Prefers an acid soil, quickly becoming chlorotic when growing on shallow chalk[2]. Succeeds in a moist moderately fertile soil in full sun[2]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[2]. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. Flowers are produced on the previous year's growth[3]. A useful plant for rough shrubberies where plants are more or less left to look after themselves[3].

Propagation

Seed - we do not have any information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible in a cold frame. If sown in the spring it is likely to require a period of cold stratification. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Cuttings of greenwood, early summer in a closed frame[2]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Physocarpus+opulifolius>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Native American Ethnobotany — Moerman. D. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 1998 · ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ↩︎Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  4. [4]A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. — Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. · Houghton Mifflin Co. · 1990 · ISBN 0395467225 ↩︎A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.