Barbs on a Berb! (Barberry)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Barberry
Date:	02/05/02 (256 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice colourful leaves, good security

Disadvantages: Underused

Another one in my plant series, the Lethal Berberis takes me back to me college days.

It is not a particularly loved plant despite having beautiful Purple foliage on some varieties.
This is mainly due to its spiky nature that make it very unfriendly to plant and tend.

Background.
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Originating in Japan, as so many achitectural shrubs do, the Berberis is a popular choice for garden designers and horticultural experts.
To give it the common names,Barberry and Oregon Grape, It is less likely found in typical gardens due to its thorny structure that can cause many scratches is not handled correctly.
Its roots are said to have medicinal properties and can be used to clear up external bacterial infections.

Varieties.
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The 2 most common varieties are called Berberis Thunbergii which has Small Purple lobed leaves and used for hedging and Berberis Aquifolium which has serated edged leaves and a much taller plant. This variety, Purse to give it its common name, is the one with medicinal properties.
There are also evergreen varieties such as gagnepainii which has glossy small pointed leaves.

Foliage.
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The Thunbergii variety has wonderful Purple leaves that it hold almost through the winter and hiding its long barbed spikes.
Roughly 1.5 Cm long by 1Cm wide, these perfect lobes grow densely add great colour to any garden.
Aquifolium has Green serated and larger leaves but not as attractive.

Flowering.
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Expect to see an abundance of small Yellow flowers on a Berberis in April and may. Very delicate and less hardy to frost due to their later flowering.

Usage.
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Another security plant if used as a hedging plant. In fact it can also double up as an ornamental hedge.
The Thunbergii is normally used as a decorative specimen but can be used as a hedge.
The best variety to use for a security hedge is the Stenophylla. It
has very long spikes and can grow to some height. This will keep unwanted visitors from any garden!

Conditions.
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The Berberis likes a sheltered location but in full sun. Too much sun will not scorch the leaves and ruin its colour. In fact, it will probably emphasise the purple. The roots are tolerant to dry conditions and are not too fussy on the soil conditions.

Care.
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Leave a berberis for too long and it will become "leggy". Tall shoots heading straight for the sun. Careful pruning in early spring will prevent this and contain its shape.
Once a year is adequate but a light summer prune will help if you require a more define shape.

Pricing.
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They do vary in price. They start at around £7 for a small Thunbergii and rocket up to £20 for some of the more established plants.

Propagation.
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2 Ways her folks. Sowing seeds and taking cutttings.
The seeds can be sown as soon as they are ripe or in early spring, in pots filled with a mixture of sandy soil and compost and placed in either a greenhouse or in cold frames.
When they are established and about 3 or 4 inches in size, they are large enough to handle be transferred to either larger pots or straight to your garden.The seeds prefer a shady location.

The other way is to grow from cuttings. Taking short shoots of about 3 or 4 inches long in July or August must be dipped in a rooting powder and planted in a sand/compost mix.They can then be placed in either a greenhouse or a in a cold frame. The roots should be ready after 6 months for transplanting.

Overall.
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A nice looking shrub with some great charateristics. Highly underused I feel.

Summary: