Diablo Ninebark vs Bristly Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Diablo Ninebark vs Bristly Black Currant

Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo

Ribes lacustre

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Diablo Ninebark
Bristly Black Currant

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.

Bristly Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub that grows in moist forests, swamps, and riparian areas. In summer, it produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that provide food for wildlife, while its reddish-purple flowers attract pollinators. The berries are technically edible and enjoyed by some, but many find them unpleasant and bitter.

Thriving in moist soils and shaded locations, Bristly Black Currant helps stabilize soil and supports diverse habitats. It is valuable for conservation plantings, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and naturalization projects.

Note: When crushed, the berries are known to release an offensive odour.

Diablo Ninebark Quick Facts

Bristly Black Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading, thicket-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - low
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: prickles may cause an allergic reaction
Foliage: reddish-purple
Fall colour: yellow
Bark: brown to red, exfoliating
Bark: reddish brown with prickles
Flowers: white
Flowers: small maroon-green clusters
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Berries: red
Berries: dark purple with hairs, edible
Flavor: tart, unpleasant
Harvest: mid to late summer
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, PE
Other Names: eastern ninebark, purple ninebark
Other Names: black gooseberry, black swamp gooseberry, bristly black gooseberry, bristly currant, bristly swamp currant, prickly currant