Side by side
Ninebark or guelder rose? How to tell them apart
Physocarpus opulifolius · Viburnum opulus
How to tell them apart – ninebark: shrub with three-lobed, toothed leaves (often dark red or yellow), domed white flower heads in June and inflated, reddish fruits; guelder rose: opposite leaves and large white outer florets.
Photo: Original uploader was Wouter Hagens at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Guelder rose Viburnum opulus
How do you recognise them?
- Ninebark
- Shrub with three-lobed, toothed leaves (often dark red or yellow), domed white flower heads in June and inflated, reddish fruits.
- Guelder rose
- Shrub with three-lobed, maple-like leaves, flat white flower heads and glossy red berries.
- Compared with ninebark: opposite leaves and large white outer florets.
| Ninebark | Guelder rose | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 4–8 cm, round to oval, three-lobed and irregularly double-toothed; green, or dark purple or yellow in the garden forms. | Opposite, 3–5-lobed, coarsely toothed, 5–10 cm; small glands on the leaf stalk. Red autumn colour. |
| Flowering | Domed heads of small, white to pale pink flowers with conspicuous stamens, in June (June). | Flat heads of small fertile flowers, ringed by large white outer flowers (May–June) (May–June). |
| Fruit | Clusters of inflated, red to brown pods in summer. | Glossy red, translucent berries in clusters; poisonous raw. |
| Bark | Brown bark that peels in long strips and layers on older branches. | Greyish-brown and smooth. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 2–3 m | Shrub, 2–4 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, dry to wet | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for bees and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | June–July | June–July |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Guelder rose is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
Read on
- Plant profile: Ninebark
- Plant profile: Guelder rose
- Ninebark: when and how to prune
- Guelder rose: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Ninebark or smoke-tree
- Laurustinus or guelder rose
- Guelder rose or Japanese snowball
- Guelder rose or field maple
- Guelder rose or red-berried elder
- Guelder rose or wayfaring-tree
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.