I don't have "Coppertina" ninebark, but have a couple of "Dart's Gold" and another one from long ago that I can no longer remember the name. I do have deer - but haven't seen any evidence of them in my yard so far yet this season likely due to the extremely harsh winter (weeks and weeks of 20-30o below zero and very high snow cover resulting die-off.

Deer have nibbled my ninebarks in the past, but only in the early spring. However, they're such fast growers, they can outpace a light browse or nibbling.

Being "deer resistant" does not mean it won't be grazed on by deer. Depends on the location, the deer population and their appetite. Deer can and will eat anything, although they definitely have their preferences. While not at the top of their list, ninebark is most certainly on their menu in my neighborhood when the mood is right :-) But not to the permanent detriment of the the shrub.

Many thanks to you both!....I was hoping to hear that they may only 'sample' the new growth. They have a lot of vegetation locally to forage from, so hopefully they won't eat the shrubs entirely......famous last words?....lol..

They nibbled my 'Coppertina' pretty bad last year. I moved it closer to the house and so far, they've left it alone and it's lookin' good.
Mike...with fingers crossed.

Any shrub that goes in the bucket "responds well to pruning" is one you never have to worry about getting browsed unless you're using them for screening, which I wouldn't recommend due to their susceptibility to powdery mildew. They like full sun and good circulation.

Coppertina is by far the superior cultivar of all ninebarks...good choice.

I cut mine back about 1/3rd late spring to keep them from becoming leggy because they will if you let em go.

I haven't cut mine back so far; in fact I never have - I kind of like the arching sprays of branches. I guess it's a preference and space thing.

I think I'll have to invest in a Coppertina, could use something with that coloration in a couple of places.

Well, I've recently moved from far Southern California to far Northern California and I'm playing with a whole new range of plants I've never used before and seeing the Coppertina in a friend's gardens...well, had to have a couple. Not 'cause I'm so smart...lol...I just hadn't seen any of the other physocarpus....lucky I saw the best one first, huh?

The difference in the regional tastes of deer...or the difference in what all else the deer have to choose from.....one person in British Columbia says hers was eaten to the ground, so I decided I may as well keep them potted for awhile....then this morning another person in Massachusetts says hers are never bothered....lol..this is why trhere is so much conflicting info on this shrub. Mine will stay inthe ground and see what happens, I guess.

I don't think there is a good way to guess what the deer might decide to sample that day...

I have heavy deer traffic, close to the house, back of my acre, it doesn't seem to matter. I've seen them on the slate right at my front door, I now regularly spray the geranium planter there with deer repellent. Last Spring I had crocus for about 15 minutes, then eaten to the ground, but this year they didn't touch them, preferring azaleas and hydrangeas along with anything they could reach on several Japanese maple..

I have two of the Coppertina, one is planted right in their path where they will cross into the yard from the street below, the other still in a pot on my patio (deer regularly cross my patio). They haven't bothered either one and I haven't sprayed those plants.

OT - the Ninebark came to me when a former neighbor gave hers a hard late winter pruning. The elderly woman on the other side of her took many of the 'whippy' stems and poked them into the ground around some emerging perennials, new puppy. Most of them rooted, grew :)

If deer do eat the ninebark (or anything you want to save), try spraying with hot pepper wax. A few sprays, and deer decide that particular item isn't good to chew on. Needs to be renewed after rain however.