Physocarpus Lady in Red

Guernsey Donkey2

I have been given this plant today.  I know it is deciduous, has amazing copper leaves and flowers, but is it attractive to wildlife?  The plant grows to around 5' x 5'.  Has anyone grown this, is it easy to establish and were you pleased with it.  Most importantly are the bees interested in the flowers?

amancalledgeorge

This very website says no...wonder if the flowers are too complex for them to get the nectar https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/physocarpus-lady-in-red/ 

Helix

We have one, which we’re very fond of.  It had a poor childhood, and was left in a tiny pot and under-watered for years.  So when we got it it was a miserable collection of sticks.   But it has responded and is now maybe 4ft x4ft and grows happily in rubbish soil.  So I reckon it is a plant that is easily pleased.

i’ve just been out to look at it, and no insects on it - but itks the wrong time of day as is in full sun right now.  I’ll look again this evening.

here is is...

Silver surfer

Helix...no insects now as the flowers are over.
It has started to develop seed heads.

KeenOnGreen

We used to have a P. Diabolo, and I recall the insects liking the flowers, but not in the way that they go mad for certain plants.  I wouldn't grow it for that reason, but they are invaluable in the garden for providing fantastic foliage colour and structure.  They are really forgiving once established.  We have a dwarf variety (Little Devil). It gets hard pruned in Spring, and never watered or fed, and couldn't look better.

Guernsey Donkey2

Thanks for sharing this information and it was the look of the plant that I admired, however I would be disappointed if the bees or other insects weren't drawn to it. However I like the sound of "easy to grow" and not demanding any special treatment.  I have a couple of ideas of where to plant it in the garden, in the meantime I will repot it, as the roots are coming through the bottom of the small plastic pot it is in, and it blew over this morning as it is top heavy, even though there is very little breeze.

Guernsey Donkey2

Update.  I am thinking of planting this Lady in Red in a huge 3 foot tall by 21 inch across terracotta pot on our back patio.  It will be watered and well cared for.  At the moment I have stood the plant (in it's GC pot) in the big flower bed so the roots are in the shade.

KeenOnGreen

Methinks you will need to transplant it into the ground in a few years.  Our mature Physocarpus, despite being hard pruned every year, was much bigger than that just on each year's growth.  Hard pruning will prolong how long you can keep it in the pot.

Guernsey Donkey2

Oh, I will have to bear that in mind @KeenOnGreen .  I don't have any full size pictures of the pots, but they are huge .  This picture just shows the width.

Braidman

Hi,

If left alone it will grow into a small tree, in a large container it needs watering morning and night with me, if strong sun shines on the foilage in  a tub it wilts!

Me I grow it for it's foilage, the bees go to other flowers for their tip bits!