Little Devil™ Ninebark

Name: Little Devil™ Ninebark
Brand: First Editions
SKU: 19644
Price: 84.75 USD
Availability: InStock

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May'

First Editions®

$84⁷⁵

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In Stock

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for at least six hours of direct sun daily; this is crucial for developing the characteristic deep purple foliage color. If you must use a location with partial shade, the plant will tolerate it, but expect the leaves to appear greener and bloom production to be slightly lessened.
Soil: Little Devil™ is incredibly adaptable, but it truly thrives in well-drained soil that has a moderate amount of organic matter. If you have heavy clay, work in a generous amount of compost to ensure the roots never sit in soggy conditions.

Watering Requirements

During the first year, water deeply a couple of times a week until the plant is established and you see new growth taking off. Once mature, Ninebark is quite drought-tolerant, though inconsistent moisture during heat waves will definitely cause stress, often resulting in lackluster foliage and smaller blooms. Provide supplemental water during extended dry spells to maintain the darkest leaf color and overall vigor.

Pruning Tips

This shrub blooms on old wood, meaning the flower buds for next year are set on the growth from the previous season. The best time for major pruning is immediately after it finishes flowering in late spring or early summer. You can practice renewal pruning by cutting the oldest, thickest canes right down to the ground—think of it like removing the oldest generation of stems—to encourage fresh, colorful new growth from the base and maintain its compact, tidy shape.

Fertilizer Needs

A single annual application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10, in early spring as the leaf buds swell is usually all this tough shrub needs. What to avoid: Skip applying high-nitrogen fertilizer in late summer or fall. This will encourage tender, late-season growth that will not have time to harden off before frost, leaving the branch tips vulnerable to winter dieback.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Fiery Foliage, First Editions® Little Devil™ Ninebark

Natural Dwarf Shrub Brings So Much Color
Outstanding, Fine-Textured Purple Foliage
Clusters of Tiny Pink and White Summer Flowers
Exfoliating Bark Adds Winter Interest
Great in Cut Flower Arrangements
Stays Small and Compact
Beautifully Upright Branches
Very Easy Care
Pest and Disease Resistant
Widely Adapted and Long-Lived
Cold Hardy
Native Cultivar of North America

The ideal landscape shrub gives year-round interest, stays tidy and compact and stands out with plenty of ornamental features. Meet First Editions® Little Devil™ Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May' PP 22,634).

Its glossy, red-purple foliage brings attention in any setting. Little Devil's leaves are held on red stems adding to the decorative appeal.

In early summer, tiny pink buds appear and open to tender clusters of white flowers. Butterflies love these nectar-rich blossoms. They'll look amazing in cut flower arrangements, as well.

In fall, the flowers develop into ornamental, cherry red seed capsules. Watch closely, and you'll see local songbirds come and take them as dinner.

Once the beautiful leaves fall, you'll get a chance to study the variegated striations of the exfoliating bark up close. Little Devil gives you much-needed winter interest with its interesting, peeling bark.

This dwarf variety stays smaller than other Ninebark. Gain the brilliant color and refined foliage of the beloved native Ninebark in a modern footprint.

Little Devil showcases a trim, tidy, compact shape and an upright, rounded form. With deliciously dark foliage all season, it delivers color and charm to your space.

Grow it in a large container as a wonderful garden feature!

Nothing could be easier to maintain. Little Devil can adapt to a variety of soils, and is disease, pest and mildew resistant.

It's a long-lived, American native cultivar shrub that supports local butterflies and songbirds. Frankly, it's hard to find a friendlier shrub for the home gardener.

Little Devil is also an excellent substitute for the beloved burgundy shades of Barberry. In some parts of the country, Barberry does "too well". Use Little Devil instead!

The refined foliage of Little Devil Ninebark sets it apart in any landscape. Now add in its small stature, remarkable color and easy care.

It's easy to see that this would be the perfect choice for your landscape. Spark things up with these expertly grown shrubs from Nature Hills.

Get your Little Devil Ninebark today!

How to Use Little Devil Ninebark in the Landscape

There are few shrubs that are easier to grow, hardier or more decorative than Ninebark. Little Devil gives you enhanced ornamental features, while requiring less space.

This compact shrub is smaller than other Ninebarks, so you'll find plenty of places to use it. It even thrives in large containers for many years.

Little Devil is a diminutive Ninebark variety that makes a fabulous choice for either commercial and residential landscapes. It is very useful in foundation plantings to decorate the exterior of your home. Try a single plant in a large container to draw the eye to your front door. Or, plant two on either side flanking your entryway.

You'll love the look of Little Devil used in long, low hedges to define your garden design. Plant 2 1/2 feet apart on center to create a solid screen. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

Try a row behind your outdoor seating on the patio, or run them down the length of your driveway. Little Devil Ninebark makes a beautiful, colorful backdrop in perennial borders.

Use them to add color to taller, mature shrubs and trees. Plant an undulating serpentine row on the south side of evergreen trees to bring life, color, flowers, butterflies and birds.

Pop one in an outdoor container, and use it to decorate your balcony, porch or deck. Who says you have to own a home to be a gardener? This cute Little Devil makes it easy to enjoy color and beautiful blooms.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Although this sweet Little Devil is very adaptable to a wide variety of climates and soil conditions, they do need to be planted in well-drained soils. The foliage color is deepest and best in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Carefully water your new Ninebark during the first season as the roots get established. They will handle period of drought after that, but we recommend that you protect your investment with a medium amount of water on a regular basis.

You likely won't have to prune Little Devil Ninebark, but here are a few tips just in case. You can shape them right after flowering is finished.

This shrub blooms on last year's wood, so take care. If you wait too long, you'll miss out on next year's blooms. Before pruning, allow the spring flowers to bloom and fade fully.

Every three years or so, you can also renewal prune to encourage performance. Remove the thickest, oldest stems at ground level. You'll be leaving the thinner, younger stems in place for best flowering.

Enjoy this special small shrub in your foundation plantings, as cunning low hedges and as a beautiful containerized specimen. Order Little Devil Ninebark today!

Botanical Name

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
Species

opulifolius
Cultivar

Donna May
Growing Zones

3-7
Height

3-4 ft
Width

3-4 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Pink
- White
Leaf Color
- Purple
Native

Yes
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring, Early Summer
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 3-7

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Little Devil™ Ninebark grow well in my planting zone (e.g., zone 8 or warmer)?

Little Devil™ Ninebark is cold hardy and widely adapted across North American planting zones. As a native cultivar, it tolerates various climates and soil conditions with excellent heat and cold resilience. Check your specific zone requirements, but this tough shrub typically thrives in zones 3-8.

What are the full care requirements for Little Devil™ Ninebark, including watering and soil needs?

Little Devil™ Ninebark adapts to various soil types and requires minimal care once established. This native cultivar is naturally pest and disease resistant with excellent drought tolerance. Water regularly the first year, then only during extended dry periods. Shop at Nature Hills for this low-maintenance native that thrives in full sun to partial shade.

How much sun exposure does Little Devil™ Ninebark need—full sun or partial shade?

Little Devil™ Ninebark thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. This adaptable native cultivar performs well with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. For the most vibrant red-purple foliage color, plant in a location with morning sun and some afternoon protection.

When and how should I prune Little Devil™ Ninebark to maintain its shape?

Prune Little Devil™ Ninebark in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This compact native shrub requires minimal pruning due to its naturally tidy, upright form. Simply remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain its rounded shape and encourage healthy air circulation.

Is Little Devil™ Ninebark deer and rabbit resistant?

Little Devil™ Ninebark is generally deer resistant due to its native genetics and sturdy foliage, though rabbits may nibble young growth. This pest-resistant cultivar typically goes untouched once established. Shop at Nature Hills for this low-maintenance native that thrives without fencing.

How is Little Devil™ Ninebark shipped, and what size pots is it available in?

Little Devil™ Ninebark ships as a live plant in various container sizes depending on availability and season. This compact native shrub adapts well to transplanting thanks to its hardy nature and disease resistance. Check current size options when ordering, as larger containers establish faster in the landscape.

Will Little Devil™ Ninebark survive winter in Massachusetts or cold climates without protection?

Little Devil™ Ninebark is cold hardy and will survive Massachusetts winters without protection as a native North American cultivar. This tough shrub adapts to various conditions and is widely cold-tolerant across northern climates. Plant it in fall for best root establishment before winter.

What is the warranty or guarantee for Little Devil™ Ninebark if it arrives damaged or dies?

Nature Hills offers a one-year warranty on all plants, including Little Devil™ Ninebark, covering arrival damage and plant failure. This hardy native cultivar is naturally disease and pest resistant, making failure uncommon. Contact customer service immediately if your plant arrives damaged or dies within the warranty period.