Ninebark shrubs have very small leaves, and fewer that last year. - Ask Extension
We have 3 Ninebark Summer Wine that were planted 9/22. They grew well until this year. All the leaves are small and sparse. The ground is damper than ...
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Ninebark shrubs have very small leaves, and fewer that last year. #933185
Asked May 27, 2026, 4:53 PM EDT
We have 3 Ninebark Summer Wine that were planted 9/22. They grew well until this year. All the leaves are small and sparse. The ground is damper than usual, perhaps due to irrigation issues. We are wrorking on that. Other than being small, there is no obvious disease or insects on the bushes,
Any clues?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Do a soil test first. Go to this first web page.
https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/soil-testing-lawns-and-gardens
Have neighboring trees grown and are now providing more shade. Has more road salt landed on the shrub than in previous years? Inspect the stems. Any animal damage to the bark?
The following web pages give the growing characteristics for this plant. If your plant does not match up, that may point to a cause.
https://trees.umn.edu/little-devil-ninebark-physocarpus-opulifolius-donna-may
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/physocarpus-opulifolius/
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/shrubselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=354
https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/soil-testing-lawns-and-gardens
Have neighboring trees grown and are now providing more shade. Has more road salt landed on the shrub than in previous years? Inspect the stems. Any animal damage to the bark?
The following web pages give the growing characteristics for this plant. If your plant does not match up, that may point to a cause.
https://trees.umn.edu/little-devil-ninebark-physocarpus-opulifolius-donna-may
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/physocarpus-opulifolius/
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/shrubselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=354
