Diabolo vs Summer Wine ninebark
Both are purple-leaved forms of the native ninebark. 'Diabolo' was the first, and is a big, vigorous shrub, about eight feet, for the back of a bed or a screen. 'Summer Wine' is smaller, about six feet, with more finely cut, wine-red leaves, which makes it the one for an ordinary border. Both need full sun to stay dark: in shade the leaves fade to green.
 Ninebark 'Diabolo'Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' |  Ninebark 'Summer Wine'Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' (Summer Wine) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 8 ft tall, 8 ft wide | 6 ft tall, 6 ft wide |
| Plant | 6½ ft apart | 5 ft apart |
| Zones | 3 to 7 | 3 to 7 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | Late May to late June; white | Late May to late June; white, pink |
| Leaves | Medium, deciduous | Medium, deciduous |
| Job in a bed | Anchor | Anchor |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Not listed as resistant | Not listed as resistant |
| Native | Variety of a native | Variety of a native |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- On the record they are near twins: choose by the look you want.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What ninebark 'Summer Wine' brings beside ninebark 'Diabolo': in flower together for four weeks, from late May. They share full sun and zones 3 to 7.
Read more: all about ninebark 'Diabolo', and all about ninebark 'Summer Wine', each with a bed the planner designed around it.