The attention-grabbing dark purple, nearly black foliage and stems of this Ninebark variety make the ornamental Phsocarpus Panther an excellent contrast shrub. Wonderful in hedges, shrub borders and garden screens and thrives in shaded areas. Beautiful pinkish white flowers appear in May and June. Whence “Ninebark?” The shrubs get their name from their habit of peeling their bark off in many layers. Plants are popular nesting places for birds. Low maintenance. Strong resistance to mildew. Drought-tolerant within one to two years after planting and able to grow in relatively harsh conditions. Fast-growing, but pruning and trimming are very important. Grows in most types of soil.