March 6, 2009 : Coppertina™ Ninebark

Last night I took this picture of the sun shining on the young foliage of this Coppertina™ Ninebark.

'Nugget' and 'Dart's Gold' are two classic varieties of ninebark that have yellow or light green foliage.

A few years ago they released a Ninebark with dark maroon foliage called 'Diabolo.' It was fun to have a shrub with the vigor and hardiness of a ninebark that had deep colored foliage.

Immediately the plant breeders went to work and started crossing the golden ninebarks with Diabolo. Coppertina™ and Center Glow Ninebarks are the two results of those crosses that have been released so far. Both have golden new growth that matures to red.