Diablo Ninebark vs Thimbleberry - TreeTime.ca

Diablo Ninebark vs Thimbleberry

Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo

Rubus parviflorus

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Diablo Ninebark
Thimbleberry

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.

Thimbleberry is an ornamental shrub with large, green maple-like-leaves. Flowers are attractive, fragrant, and turn into red-raspberry-like berries. The berries are good for jams, cakes, breads, muffins etc. If you remove the berry, the core resembles a thimble, giving this shrub its namesake.

Diablo Ninebark Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: reddish-purple
Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: yellow
Fall colour: gold
Bark: brown to red, exfoliating
Flowers: white
Flowers: white, showy
Berries: red
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Seeds: inflated seed capsules
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: eastern ninebark, purple ninebark
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry