Summer Wine Ninebark Care Guide: Growing in Wisconsin (Zone 5b)

Why Summer Wine for Wisconsin

Summer Wine is a more compact version of Diablo ninebark, topping out around 5-6 feet instead of 8-10. The dark burgundy foliage holds its color from spring through fall without fading to green the way some purple-leaf shrubs do. It’s native to North America, handles our clay soils without complaint, and deer leave it alone. The white flower clusters in late spring attract pollinators, and the peeling bark adds winter texture.

Planting Instructions

Care Throughout the Season

Spring: New growth emerges deep purple. Blooms appear in late May to early June.

Summer: Foliage stays dark. Very drought tolerant once established.

Fall: Leaves may shift to bronze or reddish tones. Interesting seed capsules persist.

Winter: Exfoliating bark provides texture. Prune in late winter if you want to shape it or control size.

Common Problems in Wisconsin

Companion Planting

Karl Foerster Grass for vertical contrast. Catmint at the base echoes the purple tones. Hydrangea paniculata varieties create a layered border. Daylilies in warm colors pop against the dark foliage.

Design and Landscape Uses

Mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, hedges, or as a standalone specimen. The dark foliage creates a backdrop that makes lighter plants in front glow. Plant it behind yellow or chartreuse plants for strong contrast.

In The Spotlight: Pinky Winky Hydrangea

Pinky Winky Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVPPinky’)

Panicle hydrangeas are the workhorses of the Wisconsin shrub border, and Pinky Winky stands out even in that reliable group. This Proven Winners selection produces enormous cone-shaped flower panicles that open white at the tip and age to deep pink from the bottom up, creating a two-toned effect that no other hydrangea can match. Thick, sturdy stems hold those big blooms upright without flopping, even after a thunderstorm.

Quick Facts

Why This Plant for Wisconsin / Zone 5b

Hardy to Zone 3, Pinky Winky does not even blink at a Wisconsin winter. Like all panicle hydrangeas, it blooms on new wood, so even a brutal February will not cost you a single flower. The plant simply grows fresh stems in spring and blooms on schedule every summer.

The two-toned flower display is what sets Pinky Winky apart from other panicle types. As the season progresses, the lower florets on each panicle shift from white to a rich, rosy pink. Meanwhile, the tip keeps pushing new white florets. The result is a bicolor cone that looks different every week from July through October. That extended show carries a Wisconsin garden through the late-summer gap when many perennials have finished flowering.

Planting Instructions

Care Throughout the Season

Spring: Prune back by about one-third in late winter or early spring, just before new growth starts. Cut each stem back to a pair of healthy buds. This maintains a compact shape and promotes stronger, thicker stems that support the heavy flower panicles. A single application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient.

Summer: Water deeply during dry spells. Pinky Winky has average water needs, but prolonged drought can cause flowers to brown prematurely instead of developing their signature pink color. Enjoy watching the color transformation begin in late July and August.

Fall: The flower panicles deepen to a dark rose and eventually dry to a warm tan. Leave them on the plant for winter interest. They look striking against snow and provide visual structure in the bare garden.

Winter: No special protection required. The dried panicles can be left standing or removed at your preference. Major pruning waits until late winter.

Common Problems in Wisconsin

Companion Planting Suggestions

• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) – Vertical counterpoint to the rounded shrub form
• Purple Dome Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – Fall purple blooms at the feet of the pink-toned panicles
• Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) – White mopheads contrast with the pink-and-white cones
• Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Dark burgundy leaves provide dramatic backdrop
• Sedum Autumn Joy (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’) – Pink fall flowers and succulent texture complement the late-season show

Design & Landscape Uses

Pinky Winky makes a bold statement as a specimen plant in a front yard or as the anchor of a mixed shrub border. Its size (6 to 8 feet in both directions) gives it the visual weight to hold a corner bed or frame a garden entrance.

A row of Pinky Winky along a fence line or property border creates a spectacular summer-to-fall hedge. The dried flower panicles extend the display well into winter. It also pairs well with ornamental grasses and late-blooming perennials for a border that peaks in August and September, when many gardens start to wind down.

Fun Facts

Find Pinky Winky Hydrangea at Heritage Hill Nursery

In The Spotlight: Amethyst Falls Wisteria

Amethyst Falls Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’)

Wisteria gets a bad reputation in gardening circles, and for understandable reasons. The Asian species (W. sinensis and W. floribunda) are aggressive invaders that swallow buildings, crush pergolas, and spread into wild areas. Amethyst Falls is the answer to every gardener who wants those cascading purple flower clusters without the destruction. This is a selection of our native American wisteria, well-behaved and perfectly suited to Wisconsin gardens.

Quick Facts

Why This Plant for Wisconsin / Zone 5b

The number one reason to choose Amethyst Falls over Asian wisteria: it is not invasive. Wisteria frutescens is native to the eastern United States and grows at roughly one-third the rate of its Asian cousins. You get the signature hanging flower clusters and twining habit without the vine taking over your neighbor’s fence, your roof, or the nearest forest preserve.

Zone 5b sits right at the northern edge of this vine’s range, which means site selection matters. A south-facing wall or fence gives Amethyst Falls the warmth it needs to bloom well and survive our coldest winters. The payoff is worth the thought: cascading lavender-purple flowers in late spring, often with a lighter repeat bloom in midsummer. And unlike Asian species that can take a decade to flower, Amethyst Falls typically blooms in its first or second year after planting.

Planting Instructions

Care Throughout the Season

Spring: As new growth emerges, train young shoots onto your support structure. Amethyst Falls blooms on new wood, so any winter dieback will not prevent flowering. Apply a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (like bone meal) in early spring to encourage blooms. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which push leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

Summer: After the main bloom, watch for a lighter second flush of flowers. Prune back long, whippy shoots to maintain shape and encourage branching. Water during extended dry periods.

Fall: Reduce watering as the vine goes dormant. Clean up any fallen leaves. This is a good time to assess your support structure and make repairs before winter adds snow load.

Winter: In Zone 5b, some tip dieback is normal and expected. Do not prune until spring, when you can see exactly which wood is alive. A 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch over the root zone provides extra insulation.

Common Problems in Wisconsin

Companion Planting Suggestions

• Clematis (Clematis spp., Zone 4-hardy varieties) – A second vine on the same arbor extends the bloom season
• Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) – Purple-blue groundcover beneath the vine echoes the flower color
• Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) – Colorful foliage at the base adds season-long interest
• Salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’) – Upright purple spikes bloom at the same time
• Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) – Tough, reliable summer color to follow the wisteria bloom

Design & Landscape Uses

Amethyst Falls is perfect for covering an arbor, pergola, or garden gate with a romantic cascade of purple flowers. Its moderate growth rate means you can train it without fighting it, and it will not crush a standard residential arbor the way Asian wisteria would.

It also works well on a sturdy fence, a porch railing, or a trellis attached to a garage wall. In smaller gardens, you can even grow it as a freestanding standard (tree form) by staking a single stem and pruning the top into a rounded canopy. This technique creates a stunning focal point for a patio or courtyard.

Fun Facts

Find Amethyst Falls Wisteria at Heritage Hill Nursery

In The Spotlight: Incrediball Hydrangea

Incrediball Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’)

Some hydrangeas demand fussy soil amendments, precise pH levels, and sheltered microclimates. Incrediball is not one of them. This improved selection of our native smooth hydrangea was bred by Proven Winners to fix the one real complaint gardeners had about the classic Annabelle: floppy stems. Incrediball delivers the same massive white snowball blooms on stems strong enough to hold them upright, even after a summer downpour.

Quick Facts

Why This Plant for Wisconsin / Zone 5b

Incrediball blooms on new wood. That single fact makes it bulletproof in Wisconsin. Our harsh winters can kill stems back to the ground, and that is perfectly fine with this shrub. It regenerates from the roots each spring and blooms reliably every single summer, no matter what January threw at it.

Hydrangea arborescens is native to the eastern United States, meaning its genetics are adapted to the temperature swings, clay soils, and variable rainfall of our region. You will not find yourself babying this plant through a polar vortex. It also supports native pollinators, including bumblebees and smaller solitary bees that work the flower clusters throughout July and August.

Planting Instructions

Care Throughout the Season

Spring: Cut the entire plant back by about one-third its total height just as new green buds begin to swell. This encourages strong new growth and builds up a woody framework over the years. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer once in early spring if desired.

Summer: Water deeply once a week, twice during hot dry stretches. Deadheading spent blooms can encourage a lighter second flush, though it is not required. Watch the flowers transition from creamy white to a soft jade green as the season progresses.

Fall: Leave the dried flower heads on the plant. They add winter texture to the garden and help protect the crown from extreme cold.

Winter: No special protection needed. The stems may die back partially or fully, which is normal. Resist the urge to prune until spring.

Common Problems in Wisconsin

Companion Planting Suggestions

• Hosta (Hosta spp.) – Shade-tolerant foliage contrast at the base
• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – Airy purple spikes complement the white globes
• Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) – Feathery pink or red plumes for texture contrast
• Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Dark burgundy foliage makes the white blooms pop
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Native grass that turns copper in fall beside the green dried heads

Design & Landscape Uses

Incrediball is a natural fit for foundation plantings, mixed borders, and mass plantings along a fence line. A row of three to five shrubs creates a stunning summer hedge of white that requires minimal maintenance.

It also works well in a rain garden or low spot where water collects, as it handles brief wet periods without complaint. Pair it with dark-leaved shrubs like Diabolo ninebark or Summer Wine ninebark for dramatic contrast. The dried flower heads provide structure in the winter garden, especially when dusted with snow.

Fun Facts

Find Incrediball Hydrangea at Heritage Hill Nursery

In The Spotlight: Donald Wyman Crabapple

Donald Wyman Crabapple (Malus ‘Donald Wyman’)

If you want a four-season ornamental tree that practically takes care of itself, the Donald Wyman crabapple belongs on your shortlist. This variety has earned a reputation among Midwest landscapers and homeowners for good reason: gorgeous spring flowers, clean summer foliage, bright red fruit that feeds birds through winter, and a graceful rounded canopy year-round.

Quick Facts

Why This Plant for Wisconsin / Zone 5b

Wisconsin gardeners have learned the hard way that not all crabapples are created equal. Older varieties drop messy fruit, lose their leaves to scab by July, and look haggard by Labor Day. Donald Wyman is a different story. Developed at the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts, this cultivar shows outstanding resistance to apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew. That disease resistance matters enormously in our humid Midwest summers.

The small, persistent red fruits will not make a mess on your sidewalk the way larger-fruited crabapples do. Instead, they hang on the branches well into January and February, providing critical food for cedar waxwings, robins, and other overwintering birds. For a Zone 5b yard, that kind of winter wildlife value is hard to beat.

Planting Instructions

Care Throughout the Season

Spring: Enjoy the spectacular white bloom display. After petal drop, apply a slow-release balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) around the drip line if growth seems sluggish. Most established Donald Wymans do fine without supplemental feeding.

Summer: Water deeply during dry spells, especially in the first two years. One inch of water per week is the target. Keep an eye on foliage for any signs of disease, though this variety rarely has issues.

Fall: Watch the fruit ripen to brilliant red. No special care needed. This is a great time to plant a new Donald Wyman if you have been considering one.

Winter: Prune in late winter while the tree is still dormant. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Light shaping is fine, but heavy pruning is rarely necessary. The persistent red fruit will brighten your winter landscape.

Common Problems in Wisconsin

Companion Planting Suggestions

• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) – Vertical texture beneath the rounded canopy
• Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) – Purple-blue flowers echo the spring color palette
• Autumn Blaze Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) – Another four-season tree for layered interest
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) – Summer and fall color at the tree’s feet
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) – Spring groundcover that blooms alongside the crabapple

Design & Landscape Uses

Donald Wyman works beautifully as a standalone specimen tree in a front yard, where its rounded form and seasonal changes create year-round curb appeal. It also performs well when planted in groups of three along a property border or driveway.

Because of its moderate size (topping out around 20 to 25 feet), it fits comfortably under power lines and near patios without overwhelming the space. The persistent fruit and spring bloom make it a natural centerpiece for a wildlife-friendly garden design.

Fun Facts

Find Donald Wyman Crabapple at Heritage Hill Nursery