A Compact Native Shrub With Rich Wine-Purple Foliage Tiny Wine Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Tiny Wine') brings the bold burgundy foliage and toughness of native ninebark to a refined, compact shrub that fits smaller gardens. Fine-textured wine-purple leaves clothe arching branches, accented by white-and-pink button flowers in late spring, with exfoliating bark for winter interest. Adaptable, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, it's a versatile dark-foliage shrub for foundations and borders in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove. Tiny Wine Ninebark Plant Details Attribute Detail Botanical Name Physocarpus opulifolius 'Tiny Wine' Mature Size 3–5 ft. tall, 3–5 ft. wide Hardiness Zone 3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) Light Full sun to part shade (darkest foliage in full sun) Bloom Time Late spring into early summer Flower Color White to pink, over wine-purple foliage Soil Adaptable — tolerates clay, poor soil, and a range of moisture Winter Hardiness Reliable to -40°F — a tough native Deer Resistance Rarely browsed by deer Native Status Compact selection of native ninebark Landscape Uses in Minnesota Compact dark-foliage shrub: Its smaller, refined size suits foundations, low hedges, and tighter borders. Space 3–4 feet apart. Native, pollinator, and four-season interest: Spring flowers feed pollinators and the exfoliating bark adds winter texture. Pair with gold-foliage shrubs and native perennials. Best Time to Plant in Minnesota Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Very adaptable; water through establishment. How to Plant Tiny Wine Ninebark Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 3–4 feet apart. Full sun gives the darkest foliage. Watering Tiny Wine Ninebark First year: Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes. After year one: Drought-tolerant — water during dry spells. Prune after flowering to shape. Q: How is it different from full-size ninebark?Tiny Wine is more compact and finer-textured, fitting smaller gardens while keeping the rich wine foliage and toughness. Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?Easily — hardy well below Twin Cities lows. Q: Is it native?Yes — it's a compact selection of native ninebark. Q: Is it deer-resistant?Yes — deer rarely browse ninebark. You May Also Like Darkstar Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): A full-size dark-burgundy ninebark. Amber Jubilee Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): A glowing gold-orange ninebark. Glow Girl Spirea (Spiraea): A gold-foliage shrub for contrast. How Many Tiny Wine Ninebark Do I Need? Tiny Wine matures to 3–5 ft wide, so space plants about 3.5 ft on center for a low dark-foliage hedge, or set as foundation accents. Run Length Plants Needed (~3.5 ft spacing) 10 ft 3 20 ft 6 30 ft 9 40 ft 12 As an accent, a single plant gives a refined wine-purple anchor; a group of 3 makes a bold dark mass against gold-foliage neighbors. Tiny Wine Ninebark Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Fine-textured wine-purple leaves clothe arching branches; deep color is strongest in full sun. Summer: White-and-pink button flowers stud the dark foliage and draw pollinators. Fall: Rich burgundy foliage holds late, deepening the border as the season closes. Winter: Exfoliating bark on bare stems adds texture and four-season structure. At a Glance ✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Four-Season Interest Plant It With Darkstar Ninebark — a full-size dark-burgundy ninebark for the back layer. Dart's Gold Ninebark — glowing gold foliage for striking contrast with the wine leaves. Ginger Wine Ninebark — orange-to-burgundy foliage that bridges gold and wine tones. Little Devil Ninebark — a compact wine-leaved ninebark that pairs in scale. Is Tiny Wine Ninebark Right for Your Yard? Tiny Wine is a tough, adaptable native selection for foundations, low hedges, and tighter borders in full sun to part shade — drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and hardy to -40°F. Not a fit if your spot is deep shade, which mutes the wine-purple foliage toward green and reduces flowering.
