Diablo Ninebark vs Bunchberry - TreeTime.ca

Diablo Ninebark vs Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Bunchberry
Diablo Ninebark

The Bunchberry, or Quatre-Temps as it is commonly known in Quebec, is an excellent ornamental plant to have in your garden. With star-shaped white flowers in spring and clusters of bright red berries in the fall, this is one of the most refined and hardy groundcovers available. The foliage has ornamental value, with leaves going from a deep green in the spring and summer to a beautiful brick-red in the fall.

Bunchberry is a spreading evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. This plant is not well suited for urban areas close to streetsides, as it is quite intolerant to pollution. It is Canada’s national flower.

According to a poll done by the Master Gardeners of Ontario, it is one of the most recognizable Canadian flowers.

Its flowers grow with elastic petals and "fire" its pollen with the force of 2000-3000 times the force of gravity.

Diablo Ninebark is a small, low maintenance, multi-stemmed shrub, that is used to add texture or color to any yard. This plant grows dark purple leaves in the spring and grows slightly faster than Common Ninebark. It features flaky red to brown bark, clusters of white flowers, and long, maple-like leaves. Diablo Ninebark can make a dense and colorful hedge, or it can be an attractive ornamental by itself.

Bunchberry Quick Facts

Diablo Ninebark Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.2 m (0.6 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: reddish-purple
Fall colour: brick red
Fall colour: yellow
Bark: brown to red, exfoliating
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Berries: small, red
Berries: red
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: August/September
Seeds: inflated seed capsules
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: eastern ninebark, purple ninebark