The small leaves etc. indicate there is a problem at the roots - the same reason it is putting out small leaves will be why the mature leaves are burning. If it were mine I would dig it up, shake the potting soil off and look at the roots, see if it has a mostly dead root system. If it already had root rot due to water molds when you bought it then the heavy watering will, if anything have made things worse.

Many potted outdoor nursery plants sold have not been handled with complete success at all times before being purchased by the final consumer, can come to the garden or landscape with serious existing issues that prevent good establishment and performance. Water mold infestations may be one of the more prevalent of these problems.

Another destructive agent present in this area that can significantly damage root systems of container stock is weevils. If these do infest nine-barks in pots maybe you will find weevil damage to yours if you inspect its roots. Or have weevil grubs fall off it with the potting soil, an experience I have had more than once myself (with other kinds of shrubs).

The small leaves were growing. During May and early June, the new growth was normal size. But then we had all those 90 degree days and they burned before they could develop. New ones would sprout only to burn.

It was a $6 Home Depot experimental shrub to see if it could do well in mostly shade. I was willing to risk a less intense color since I need something large in that corner that can handle going from full shade to full sun. I wouldn't be surprised to see weevils being from HD, but I think they do get local nursery stock.

I have a number of ninebarks in various locations (all cultivars including Center Glow). I have them sited for color so they are in various sun/shade locales. The last two summers with that heat starting so early AM has been tough on a lot of established plants but none of my nines have been adversely affected. I do have a young one which I had planted under a plum tree that was struggling with too much shade until I pruned the tree. It was leggy and tender and now is maturing much better. Perhaps the immaturity hammered by the intense heat ?

I think that does have some effect. I'm going to try it in full sun. Thanks!

I have one in a pot in full sun. It seems to be doing fine.

I've never had one before and don't know the variety of this one. I acquired it in a trade and wanted to grow it to find out more about it. If it doesn't have good Fall color, out it goes.

Mike

Wow, boxofrox! Beautiful garden! Your ninebark is nice with the blue of the ceanothus. I'll be planting mine in front of a fence with Rozanne geranium edging the bed so the effect should be similar. I think it's going to trade places with a variegated mock orange, the philadelphus species. I love that shrub too. It's also nice with blues.

I can't remember about fall color, but the new growth is gorgeous and it has summer flowers. Berries too I think. Worth keeping, Mike?

So far, so good. Too early yet for Fall color evaluation for the one I have.

I think it would look good near a Blue China Fir.... Cunninghamia lanceolata, 'Glauca'.

Mike

Looks really nice with gold, lime, or light green foliage especially. Also variegated as well.

Good, cuz I have plenty of gold foliage! I noticed your gold spiky grass. What is that? I have a huge gold hakone that I can split.

I moved it today. The roots looked fine but dry despite the weekend rain.

The roots looked fine but dry despite the weekend rain.

Typically it doesn't rain enough here to completely re-wet soil that has not been kept well watered until November here. On average August is the driest month of the year, November the wettest. Even with all the storms and rain in November there is still a general recurring pattern of the soil gradually re-moistening and cooling over the course of the winter, so that by spring plants face the coldest and wettest soil conditions of the whole year - one of the disadvantages of spring planting. Whereas autumn (before November) planting has the significant advantage of soils still being comparatively warm and dry. And in fall it is getting cooler and moister, instead of hotter and drier - after mid-August the average temperature falls off markedly, with rains starting back up, the storms of November (and cold of December) around the corner.

With the recent wild weather we have had this year my lawn is filling back in already. I have been surprised that it has been wet enough to generate this response, which started some time ago.

Here's a picture of my Ninebark. Have no idea what variety it is.

It's going in the ground by the end of the month. I'm tired of feeding it water. I had it in the ground once, but the deer stripped it almost bare so I had to move it up by the house where there are less deer. Trouble is, up by the house is getting crowded. Elk have been giving me some trouble also.

This has been a very dry summer.

Mike

That might be Diablo. Center Glow is a cross between Diablo and Dart's Gold. Here's the new growth on my CG from June. It was a little brighter before it went into shade when my tree leafed out.

Looks like you're working on a potted forest there, Mike.

Embothrium, I'm hoping for a good soaker this winter. I see a lot of firs with dead areas in my area.

I like that Center Glow!

That potted forest is just part of the area I have devoted to nursery stock for planting out in the garden. Space in the garden is getting more difficult to make. Looks like I'm going to have to concentrate on smaller plants and fit them between and around the larger...... ones like I've been doing for years. I seem to be prewired for it.

That reminds me of the farmer that won the lottery. When.asked what he was going to do now, he answered, "I'm going to keep on farmin' til the money runs out".

Yes, Embo, it's going to take a while to wet down the soil. I can kick the ground and up comes dry soil. I don't even need a shovel. Out in the woods it takes all winter to get wet. If I move anything into the ground now, it will be close to a hose and soaking wet when it comes out of the pot. Warm and dry weather is not over quite yet.

Mike