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Beautiful Berberis
Berberis thunbergii are deciduous shrubs which look sun but also tolerate partial shade. They do well in particularly fabulous at this time year, producing most soil types, and even do well in drought, but will highly coloured leaves, and often berries which last thrive particularly well in well drained moist soil. Their well into winter. These berries are actually edible easy-going nature extends to aftercare, as they are and rich in vitamin C, though because they are very generally pest-free and require little attention, other acidic, they are not widely consumed by people. than a trim to tidy them up periodically. If you don’t They are an important food for many small birds have much space or mainly grow in containers on a though. They get their other name of ‘barberry bush’ balcony ‘Lutin Rouge’ does very well in a pot. because of their vicious spines. This makes them Mid-September to October, and mid-March to April useful as an impenetrable barrier hedge and may are the best times to plant so now is the perfect be another reason why the berries aren’t harvested time. Dig a hole double the width of the root ball. much! Sprinkle in a handful of blood, fish and bone and Like the colourful Japanese Maple, they originate work into the ground. Place the plant into the hole, from Eastern Asia. Berberis vary in colour according fill in with soil around the root ball and firm the to the cultivar and variety. The common Berberis soil down gently but firmly, finish by watering well. thunbergii have green leaves in spring and summer They will appreciate being mulched with well-rotted which turn rich burgundy in autumn. If you’d like organic matter in late spring, but they aren’t fussy; the purple colour all year round choose Berberis grass cuttings will do fine. thunbergii f. atropurpurea, which has purple leaves My absolute favourite is Berberis thunbergii f. in spring that turn rich mahogany in autumn. Though atropurpurea ‘Admiration’. This lovely plant has Berberis are generally grown for their autumn colour, extremely attractive orange-red foliage, edged with they are a hard-working shrub, and produce a mass yellow, and forms an attractive mound shape. Its of tiny yellow flowers in spring, providing interest at masses of small yellow flowers in the spring followed either end of the year. by purple-crimson berries in autumn make it the There is a Berberis for most gardens: They can grow most perfect Berberis in my opinion. to a maximum height and spread of 1.5m, but there are now dwarf forms which grow to just 50cm, try ‘Tiny Gold’ or ‘Lutin Rouge’. They grow best in full Happy Gardening! 18 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts
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