Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

The leaves of the Berberis thunbergii are small

Image - Wikimedia / Retama

The species Berberis thunbergii It is one of the most grateful that exist: it resists pruning very well, and as it has small leaves it can even work as bonsai, or give it the shape you want. It is also excellent to decorate the balcony or terrace, for example as a tree.

Maintenance is very easy, as you will be able to verify yourself, so we encourage you to follow the advice that we offer you below.

Origin and characteristics of Berberis thunbergii

View of the adult Berberis thunbergii

Known as barberry, it is an evergreen shrub native to western Asia, although it is also found in Japan. It reaches a maximum height of two meters, although it is normal to leave it with 1 meter and even less. The branches are well armed with simple or tridentate spines, and the leaves are small, 12-24mm long by 3-15mm wide, green or purple depending on the variety and / or cultivar.

The flowers are yellow, and are grouped in umbels that can appear from early spring to early summer. The fruits are berries suitable for human consumption, bright orange in color, measuring 7-10mm in length by 4-7mm in width. These contain a seed that matures in late summer.

There are various cultivars, such as the Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana' that measures no more than a meter and has purple leaves, or the Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' which is similar to the type species but with yellowish-green leaves.

How do you take care of yourself?

If you want to have a copy, we advise you to provide the following care:

Location

It is a bush that must be outside, in full sun. Of course, in climates with strong insolation you can put it in semi-shade.

Earth

  • Flower pot: uses universal substrate (for sale here) or mulch (for sale here) mixed with 30% claystone (for sale here).
  • Garden: it is not demanding, it can grow in neutral or calcareous soils, but it is important that it has good water filtration capacity since it does not tolerate waterlogging.

Irrigation

Berberis thunbergii f. Atropurpurea - Image - Flickr / Kristine Paulus

It depends on the weather and the season of the year in which you are. In principle, in an area with a typical Mediterranean climate, with temperatures of up to 40ºC in summer and weak frosts of up to -4ºC or so in winter, and with a dry period that coincides with the warmest time of the year, we recommend watering a an average of 3 and up to 4 times a week in summer, and an average of 2 a week the rest of the year.

In the case that you have it in a pot in the sun, you may have to water a little more often since the soil dries much more quickly than the soil in the garden.

Anyway, you should know a little about your climate. If the temperatures in your area are milder and / or it rains frequently, you will need to water little; and if on the contrary it is warmer and drier, that irrigation frequency will be high.

Use rainwater whenever you can, or else from a well or cistern. Avoid wetting the leaves so they don't burn.

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It is recommended to pay both in spring and summer with organic fertilizers such as guano or compost in order to achieve good growth and development and a healthier plant.

Multiplication

Barberry flowers are yellow

Image - Wikimedia / Kor! An (Андрей Корзун)

Barberry multiplies by seeds in winter and cuttings in spring. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

The seeds of Berberis thunbergii they have to stratify in the fridge for three months a temperature of 4ºC, and after that time they have to be sown in seedbeds with specific substrate (for sale here).

Seedling tray with seedlings
Related article:
What are they and how to choose the seedbeds?

Trying not to put them too close together and burying them a little so that they are not too exposed to the sun, they will germinate throughout the spring.

Cuttings

Branches of about 30 centimeters are taken and the base is impregnated with rooting hormones (for sale No products found.) and then plant them (not nail them) in pots with previously moistened vermiculite.

To increase the chances of success, it is advisable to cover the pot - with the cutting - with a transparent plastic that has some small holes made, for example with the tip of a knife or sewing scissors.

If all goes well, they will root in a month or two.

Pests

It can be attacked by:

  • ardis berberidis: it is a hymenopteran that, in its larval stage, eats the leaves.
  • Aphids: they are very small parasites, less than 0,5cm, whose body is brown, black, green, or yellow-orange. They feed on the sap of the leaves, standing on the underside of the leaves, although they are also found in unopened flower buds. See file.

Both are treated with potassium soap or diatomaceous earth, which are natural products to treat pests.

Avoid buying diseased plants
Related article:
What natural products to treat pests to use?

Management

Sensitive to the following:

  • Anthracnose: blackish spots appear on the leaves. Treat with fungicide as soon as the first symptoms are detected. See file.
  • bacteriosis: dark green spots appear that turn red-purple. The affected parts have to be cut. See file.
  • Roya: orange bumps appear on the leaves, which usually fall. Treat with fungicide, but it is not serious. See file.
  • Mosaic virus: Mosaic-like spots appear on the leaves. There's no cure.

Pruning

El Berberis thunbergii it is pruned in autumn, removing all those branches that are broken, weak or diseased. Take the opportunity to give it the shape you want 😉.

Disinfect pruning tools before and after using them.

Rusticity

Barberry is a very decorative shrub

Image - Wikimedia / Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

It resists frosts of up to -18ºC.

What did you think of this bush?


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