Stats

Lifespan

20-30 years

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

This deep purple shrub grows along rocky stream banks in eastern North America. Its papery bark peels back in nine distinct layers to reveal hidden amber stems.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Rosales

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Physocarpus

Species

Physocarpus opulifolius