Physocarpus opulifolius 'Cougar Cub'

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Cougar Cub': Bright Yellow Foliage with Creamy Spring Bloom

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Cougar Cub' is a Bloomin’ Easy® ninebark that brings a burst of bright yellow foliage to the garden from spring through fall. In spring, cream-coloured flowers blanket the plant, softening the bold leaf colour with a fresh, airy bloom display. Its improved upright form and stem hardiness help it hold a neat, confident shape, even in exposed sites. As the season progresses, the foliage continues to act like a natural highlighter in mixed plantings and sunny borders.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 4–5’
• Spread: 3–4’
• Flower Colour: Cream
• Flowering Period: Spring
• Foliage: Bright yellow foliage
• Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Requirements: Average, well-drained soil; adaptable once established

Uses and Benefits: A strong choice for adding bold foliage colour to mixed shrub borders, foundation plantings, and sunny beds where you want season-long brightness. Its upright habit makes it useful as a colour accent, a loose hedge, or a repeating shrub to create rhythm through a planting. The spring flowers offer early-season interest, while the vibrant leaves bring contrast beside dark evergreens and purple-leaved shrubs.

Care Instructions: Water regularly during the first season to establish, then water during extended dry spells for best growth and foliage quality. For the most vibrant leaf colour, give it plenty of sun, with a bit of afternoon shade welcome in hotter exposures. Prune right after flowering if shaping is needed, and every few years remove a few older stems at the base to keep the plant vigorous and full. Mulch helps conserve moisture and keeps roots steady through summer heat.

History: Ninebark is a tough North American native shrub valued for its resilience and multi-season structure. Bloomin’ Easy® selected 'Cougar Cub' for its standout bright yellow foliage, spring cream-coloured bloom, and improved upright habit with better stem hardiness for reliable landscape performance.

Final Thoughts: If your planting needs a reliable shot of sunshine with an easy, upright form, Cougar Cub delivers bright foliage and spring bloom in a shrub that stays tidy and confident all season.