My preference is 'Center Glow'. It is a rich copper color throughout the season with the newest growth often with a golden tint. Deepens to more a mahogany color with fall/cold weather.

You know they get mildew, don't you? I have 3 and all get mildew. If you get on it early and spray with skim milk& water solution the mildew can be well controlled. There are other control solutions. I think they are a mixed bag. I only remember coppertina which has lovely foliage. I think it holds it color pretty well but others may know better. I have one that weeps and finally had flowers last year. I think I was pruning them off several years in a row because the shrub's messy look in youth annoyed me. I'd probably buy it again but I'd be more realistic about it's shortcomings. Not that there's any such thing, but it is not a "perfect" shrub by any means.

I'd just add that 'Center Glow' is very PM resistant. More so than any other cultivar I've encountered.

I have a Ninebark - 'Seward's Summer Wine'. - I know there is another common name for it, but I don't remember. I enjoy ours. I haven't had any mildew problem with mine. When I first bought it, it was very vigorous and would push out a lot of stems from the base, but the last time I pruned it severely, I didn't cut the branches far enough back to the ground and it's not been as vigorous and looks a little spindly. I am hoping to figure out something to do to improve on that. I'm thinking of cutting it back to the ground again and this time all the way to the ground. I'm just not sure that is going to do the trick.

It's so pretty and mine seems to be carefree really. Dark foliage, pink blooms that don't last too long. It's a nice contrast of color. It's a native too, isn't it? Mine stays brown and gets a little reddish in the fall, which is nice. Mine is arching and forms a nice shape and I consider mine neat and symmetrical. The flowers are pretty but they are small and don't last long. I don't think the blooms are the main reason to have this shrub. Mine was bigger before I pruned it hard. This is the 2nd season since I did that and it hasn't reached it's previous size yet, but I'd say definitely under 8ft wide and tall.

I have Coppertina and Tiny Wine, neither of which have ever had any mildew, so I must have them in ideal settings. Mine are in open areas with full sun, while Marie is a zone warmer and her garden is tucked into a shadier hollow, so the setting may make the biggest difference. There was an article that I will look for that discussed mildew susceptibility, though it is old enough that it might not have any of the ones you are considering. I don’t know how large you expect Tiny Wine to get, but mine is now at something between 5-10 years from planting as a tiny rooted cutting, it is just about 6’. Tiny Wine is a more upright growth form than Coppertina, a V shape more than a fountain. I would consider them neat as far as dropping stuff, but neither is a rigidly structured growth form. Flowers and fall color are nice on both.

I have 'Summer Wine' planted back in 2010 in full sun in heavy clay soil in the bed on the bank between our driveway and the neighbour to the south's driveway - it has never had PM and the color stays dark all season. I find the flowers the shrub produces are rather wimpy in color so I have it partnered with things that have stronger flower colors - e.g. Orange Emperor tulips for spring (we just cut the faded flowerstalks down yesterday....), then there are red and red-orange daylilies and 'Paprika' roses and 'Peachy Cream' roses, and 'Midnight Marvel' hardy hibiscus for late summer color. I usually prune out some stems each year to keep it rejuvenated but I've found it to be pretty easy-care.

Center Glow, Summer Wine, Little Devil, Amber Jubilee, darts Gold and Fireside. All get mildew to some degree except AJ. None roo bad. Fireside has great season long color compared to other dark leaf forms. What size plant do you want? Quite a difference in size between LD and SW.

Have had some experience with nine barks. In general I agree with NHBabs, they need to be in ALL day sun to stay mildew free.

Sherry

Houzz won't let me type reply without erasing previous words thanks for suggestions

Or punctuate

Locked out on computer now this

Read that center glow turned all green

Not true?

If it stays copper that is making me rethink decision to go with wine color .

Commercial listing I read said that

plus Missouri botanical garden pics were dull green in Sumner then yellow in fall

Trying to post a reply is giving me a headache

I have to let my phone predict a word instead of typing it myself

Mine is in half sun, in the afternoon, near the foundation of my house facing West, where a line of mature Maples cut off the sun by about 5pm in the summer. I haven't seen any mildew on it. It does get a fair amount of wind, being planted at the beginning of an alleyway between the house and garage, that pulls the wind down it on a regular basis.

I had Diablo for many years. Stayed a nice red, but I didn't care for the flowers so cut them off.

I have several ninebark and Little Devil is the only problem child. Mildew is bad on this one. I have it in two locations. In full sun preventive pruning manages the mildew. In the other, more visible location, there is a tad less sun. I will be removing the Devil from this bed in the fall. The larger leaved, larger shrubs I have not had any issues with. For me, full sun and keeping the middle open for air circulation are key. I enjoy their bark and the colorful leaves.

I also find if you go out and give them a light pruning in midsummer as they start to slow in growth, the will reflush with more vibrant growth. Especially on varieties like Amber Jubilee or Center Glow which have that vibrant contrasting new growth color.

I have Amber Jubilee and Lemon Candy. I like both of them, especially Lemon Candy. The only drawback is that they are heavily defoliated by a bug in summer. Probably the Ninebark Beetle, but I haven't caught it in the act to verify. it is especially sad to lose the foliage of Lemon Candy because it glows so beautifully in the sun.

I have Coppertina, Diablo, Summer Wine, Amber Jubilee, Centerglow, and Dart’s Gold. I love them all but these are big shrubs so give whichever one you choose more room than you think they will need.

i have pruned the crowded ones to the ground in early spring and had a good sized shrub again by July. Mine also seed. I have given away Dart’s Gold seedlings, Diablo seedlings, etc. Some seedlings have been green .

I have Summer Wine in a totally shaded spot (at least for 10 years). It always flowers. I quite like it shaded and it has probably contributed to maintaining a reasonable size even with it’s reputation as a shorter version. I will take a few photos which may help you in your decision.....

We've been growing a Center Glow Ninebark for about twelve years. I do an annual light pruning, but this shrub is low maintenance and trouble free. The only other Ninebark is Little Devil, which I planted this spring. Hopefully it does as well as Center Glow.

Does one or more have an upright habit? Do any of the upright forms stay rather tight. I'm looking for a shrub that will have a vertical shape, not a ball.

Summer Wine approximately 10 years old

This was a seedling from either the Coppertina or Centerlow...

And here is Dart’s Gold, full sun and 10 years old.