help me ID this hedge plant?!

[countrychic]

I am looking for an alternative to a boxwood hedge (cost being the main factor), and saw this hedge in a public garden. Can anyone ID this plant for me?
The hedge is going near my kids playfort, so barberry is out as an alternative (thorns). Hoping this plant might be cheaper and grow faster than boxwood.

[kelly_m]

Looks like a ninebark to me....

[Northpine]

Hi Country Chic,
I have both Ninebark and Alpine Currant. However I can't go check the foliage of either as we are still having winter it seems.

But I think that looks more like Alpine Currant to me. In any case it makes a a good hedge.

[patty]

I was thinking Alpine Currant too.

[butterfly]

I have ninebark and it doesn't look like it

but I don't know what it is either

[Sharon Bryson]

Here is a link to an interesting selection of hedge material.
http://www.gnb.ca/0171/30/0171300011-e.asp

Nature Hills Nursery says: re Alpine Currant.....
"The Alpine Currant, Ribes alpinum, is a very hardy hedge plant that can be kept trimmed to any desired height from 18 inches to 4 feet. The abundant green, glossy foliage forms a dense hedge. Grows well in sun or shade and is rarely bothered by insects or plant diseases. The Alpine Currant can survive the coldest of winter climates with annual temperatures as low as -50° Fahrenheit. It does well in dry soils. Alpine currant is drought tolerant"

[countrychic]

Thanks everyone, that looks like it. I would never have known it was a Ninebark, as I've only seen them as large shrubs, not a hedge.

[B_BQ]

Just a quickie comment here.
We used alpine currant in our other house to hide the A/C, heat exchanger, and it made a wonderful hedge. You could chop it, hack it, neglect it, and do just about anything to it, and it would just keep on going...!!!! Wonderful plant in the right place. We trimmed it each year to the height we wanted it.
~BBQ