Barberry high bush red description name. Barberry: care for a shrub and the rules for its cultivation. At the bottom of the pit, fertile soil and fertilizers are poured

Many homestead owners garden plots and dachas are planted with shrubs with high decorative properties. One of them is barberry. Planting and caring for this shrub is not particularly difficult. The article discusses how to properly plant an acquired plant, take care of it. Tips on propagating barberry and combating pests and diseases that affect it may also come in handy.

Varieties and varieties of barberry

Barberry is a spectacular ornamental plant with elongated fruits of bright red, yellow or white. This is an unpretentious, drought-resistant and frost-resistant shrub with elliptical leaves of the most diverse colors: green, yellow, red, purple. The berries of the common barberry are edible and are widely used in cooking and medicine. They have a pleasant sour taste and are used to make compotes, kissels, jams, marshmallows, syrups, etc.

Due to the presence of many useful substances- malic, tartaric and citric acids, carotenoids, vitamins, mineral salts, fruits and leaves of the plant are used to make drugs:

• reducing blood pressure;
• having a bactericidal effect;
• preventing the development of lamblia in the human body;
• to stop bleeding;
• relieve fatigue;
• fight against psoriasis.

Exist three main varieties of barberry, each of which has many varieties:

1. Barberry common reaching 3 m in height. The most popular varieties are Atropurpurea, Alba-variegata, Aureo-marginata, Notched, Large-spined.
2. Ottawa barberry. This species reaches 2-4 m in height, has very beautiful yellow flowers, pink-purple in summer and bright crimson leaves in autumn. Varieties Superba, Aurikoma, Silver Miles, Purple are widespread.
3. Barberry Thunberg. The height of the plant is 0.5-1.5 m. Rose Glow, Maria, Coronita, Harlequin, Red Chief, Aurea, Golden Ring varieties are very popular with gardeners, whose bright coral leaves bordered with a gold rim are very decorative, as seen in the photo .

There are also types of barberry, which, by their external features, resemble the common barberry:

• a hybrid of Provencal barberry, obtained by crossing an ordinary and Siberian plant species;
• growing in the Himalayas Spinous;
• barberries of Zimbold, James, Diels.

Planting barberry

In order for the seedlings to develop well, bloom profusely and bear fruit, it is important to carefully consider the choice of a place for planting and soil preparation. For barberry, soil with normal acidity is most suitable, if its pH is more than 7.0, it is recommended to add slaked lime before or during planting.

The optimal distance between the bushes for a single planting is 1.5 m, when creating a hedge - 0.5 m. Barberry does not tolerate stagnant water, so it should be planted in the highest places of the site and drain the soil by adding sand to improve the aeration of the root system of the plant.

Attention! Despite its endurance and unpretentiousness, the barberry is photophilous; when planted in the shade, the bright shades of the color of its leaves fade and may disappear. decorative elements on the leaves, for which this plant is especially valued: spots, stripes and other patterns.

Boarding order:

1. getting ready landing pit with sides 40 x 40 x 40 cm.
2. A small layer of sand is laid at the bottom of the pit, then a mixture of soddy soil with 8-10 kg of humus or compost. If a organic fertilizers are absent, mineral ones can be used instead (200 g of superphosphate and 100 g of potassium sulfate). At high soil pH (high acidity), 400 g of lime or 200 g of wood ash are added to it.
3. The plant is placed in a pit, the free space is filled with the prepared earth mixture, watered abundantly, the surface is mulched with peat or compost. The root neck of the bush should be at the level of the soil surface.
4. The top of the plant is cut off leaving 3-5 strong buds at the bottom.

The best time for its planting or transplantation in the fall - from September 15 to October 15, in the spring - from the 20th of March to April 15. Plants that are purchased in a container can also be planted in the summer, choosing a non-hot day and protecting the first days from direct sunlight.

Seedling care

The main care operations for barberry bushes are:

• loosening the soil, facilitating the access of oxygen to the roots of the plant;
• watering in dry weather, weeding with weed removal;
• pruning of weak and diseased branches, the formation of a bush;
• top dressing.

In the first 2 years after planting, the seedling should be covered for the winter with burlap to protect it from the cold. Adult bushes quite easily tolerate negative temperatures. If the winter is severe and frost damages the branches, they are pruned with the onset of spring to healthy buds.

Barberry is a fast-growing shrub that is recommended to be trimmed regularly in spring or autumn. This will allow not only to remove the skeletal branches located in the central part of the bush, leading to its excessive thickening, but also to give a beautiful decorative shape with the help of a haircut. The first pruning is done a year after planting, removing half or two-thirds of the growth of the branch. The best time to trim your barberry hedge is June and August.

Attention! Some varieties of barberry have sharp spikes, so when caring for them, protect your hands with strong gloves. Regular watering (once every 4-7 days) is required only when the soil dries up in a dry hot weather and newly planted plants.

Fertilizer and top dressing of barberry bushes

Barberry doesn't need too frequent feeding. The first feeding of the plant is carried out a year after planting, then every 3-4 years. In the spring they are brought nitrogen fertilizers(for 1 bush it dissolves in 10 liters of water 20-30 g of urea), in the fall - phosphorus, potassium (15 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium salt per 1 plant), organic fertilizers. It is good to combine these preparations with trace elements.

In July, plants can be fertilized with the Kemira-universal complex preparation at a concentration of 15 g per 10 liters. Nitrogen fertilizers - ammonium nitrate, urea contribute to powerful growth, the formation of leaves and stems of seedlings, potash and phosphorus provide abundant flowering and fruiting of bushes.

Reproduction of barberry

At propagating barberry seeds, they are separated from the stone, kept for 3-5 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Dried seeds are buried in the ground by 1-2 cm, with the advent of spring, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving a distance of 3 cm or more between them. After 2 years, seedlings can be transplanted to another place. When spring sowing seeds, they must first be stratified: mixed with sand and placed in the refrigerator for 2-5 months. The stratification temperature should be between 2-5 ºC. In order for the plants to bear fruit in a few years, several specimens must be placed side by side, as this is a cross-pollinated shrub.

cuttings produced in the morning in the middle of July. Preparation of cuttings consists in removing lower leaves, shortening 2 times the upper and placing for 3-5 hours in water solution heteroauxin or other root former. After washing with water, the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse. The soil should consist of equal parts of sod land, humus and peat, to which not added a large number of sand. Within two weeks, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated and the soil is moistened, and when the cuttings are fully rooted, the film is removed.

For breeding barberry layering in the spring, a powerful annual shoot is selected in the lower part of the bush, bends down, fits and fixes in a small groove, which is covered with earth in such a way that only top part branches. By the end of the season, the layering will be able to take root, it is separated from the bush and transplanted.

Diseases and pests affecting barberry

The most dangerous insects for barberry are moth, aphids and sawflies. Signs of damage to the plant by aphids are drying and wrinkling of the leaves. The pest can be eliminated by spraying the bushes with soapy water (300 g are taken per 10 liters of water). laundry soap). Other pests can be destroyed with a 1-3% solution of chlorophos.

Also, barberry can be affected by fungal diseases, for example, powdery mildew, as seen in the photo, leaf spot, rust and other diseases. To destroy powdery mildew pathogens, the bush must be treated with 1% solution of colloidal sulfur, cut off diseased branches and burned. If the plant is affected by rust, it should be treated three times with 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid or colloidal sulfur once a week. In case of spotting disease, copper oxychloride (30-40 g per 10 l of water) is used twice before the flowers bloom and at the end of flowering. Plants affected by fungal wilt are treated with copper oxychloride or Bordeaux liquid. If a bacteriosis occurs, manifested by cracks and tumors on the stems, it is necessary to cut off the diseased shoot, capturing the healthy part of the plant and burn it, and spray the bush with Bordeaux liquid or its analogue.

By planting a barberry in your backyard, you can get great pleasure from the amazing beauty of this plant, create beautiful compositions using its branches, densely strewn with fruits, as well as using berries for cooking many dishes and medicinal tinctures.

Barberry for the garden: video

Growing barberry: photo

Barberry is a very picturesque plant. There are forms with green, purple and variegated leaves that fit wonderfully into joint plantings with deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs. In landscape design, this property of barberry is widely used. Its berries are edible and useful. Young leaves can be added to salads. AT traditional medicine barberry has long been known and widely used.

Barberry - let's get acquainted

The barberry family unites several hundred species of trees and shrubs. Deciduous and evergreen forms are known. In the wild, this plant is found on almost all continents.

Barberry is found on almost all continents

Prefers a warm climate, but can tolerate moderate frosts. In severe cold requires shelter. The plant is prickly, the fruits are small, edible. In culture, common barberry or Thunberg barberry is grown, less often Amur, Canadian (Ottawa) and Korean.

The great decorativeness of the plant is popular in landscape design and is widely used. It also contributes to huge selection- from dwarf forms (30 cm) to giants (3 m), with a spherical, columnar and spreading crown. Barberry gets along well with various plants and does not seek to capture the territory, since it does not have root growth. Drought tolerant, shade tolerant, unpretentious.

There is a small drawback - thorns. But it can be made a virtue: hedge from barberry will become an insurmountable obstacle for uninvited guests and a beautiful frame for your site.

The maximum decorative effect of the plant falls on the age of 7–8 years. Can live up to 50 years good care bears fruit up to 35-40 years. Blooms in May, about 3 weeks. Good honey plant.

Barberry looks spectacular in joint plantings

Landing and care

Barberry grows in sun and partial shade. If you decide to plant a plant with variegated or bright foliage, then this should be a well-lit place. In the shade, the decorative effect is lost, the leaves become paler or turn green. Landing is carried out in early spring, before bud break. If the plant has a closed root system, then you can plant it in the fall, in September or in the first half of October (at least a month before the onset of frost). Barberry can grow on almost any soil, even sandy and rocky, but not acidic. Stagnation of moisture depresses him.

The landing pit is prepared 2 weeks before planting. Its size is 40x40x40 cm.

Pit preparation:

When planting several bushes side by side, you need to take into account their adult size and leave the required distance. If you decide to arrange a hedge, then you need to dig a trench of the required length. Plants are planted at a distance of 0.5 m from each other. For a two-row hedge, bushes are planted in a checkerboard pattern.

A few years after planting, the barberry hedge will be impenetrable

When planting, the roots are carefully straightened, covered with earth so that the root collar is at the level of the soil. The shoots are cut, leaving 3-5 buds, the plant is watered and mulched.

Watering and fertilizing

Barberry tolerates a lack of moisture better than its excess. In rainy weather, an adult plant has enough rainfall. In the heat, you need a bucket of water per bush 1 time in 2 weeks. A newly planted barberry is watered 1-2 times a week until it takes root. Then - as needed.

For the first 2–3 years, the fertilizers applied during planting are enough for the plants. Further, for ornamental shrubs, urea is applied in spring (dissolve 30 g in 10 liters of water) 1 time in 3 years. If the plant is berry, then, in addition to urea, every year after flowering it is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (according to the instructions).

Preparing for the cold

In winter, young plants (the first 3–5 years) require shelter, regardless of the frost resistance of the variety. If winters are mild in your region, then the barberry will endure this period well. At severe frosts, especially in Siberia or the Urals, adult plants also cover. To do this, they make a semblance of a hut from branches and spruce branches and additionally throw snow.

The first 3–5 years, the barberry needs shelter for the winter

pruning

Sanitary pruning is required annually in spring and autumn. Remove broken, dry and diseased branches. If the barberry is planted for decorative purposes, then they begin to form it from the second year after planting. All types of plants tolerate shearing well, and to maintain a given shape, the bush is pruned at the beginning and end of summer every year.

Proper bush formation requires annual pruning.

Dwarf species of barberry, as a rule, have a dense compact crown and can do without formative pruning. They look great in curb plantings and on alpine slides.

Dwarf forms of barberry do not need shaping pruning

reproduction

Barberry reproduces well with the help of seeds, cuttings and layering. Good results are obtained by dividing the bush.

Barberry breeding methods:

• Seeds. To get seeds ripe berries crushed, washed and dried. Sow in the fall, immediately into the ground to a depth of 1 cm. The place is chosen so that the seedlings can grow there for 2 years. Then they are transferred to permanent place. In the spring, after germination, they are thinned out, leaving a distance of about 3 cm. Care consists in regular watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds. For the winter, shelter beds are required.
  

  When propagated by seeds of some varieties, seedlings may not retain parental characteristics.

  To obtain seeds, ripe berries are crushed, washed and dried.

• The cuttings are rooted in the summer in a special greenhouse, where they will grow for 2 years. In June, shoots of the current year are cut about 15 cm long. All leaves are removed in the lower part, treated with a root formation stimulator. The upper leaves are cut in half. Planted in a mixture of humus, peat and sod land with sand. The cuttings are buried by 2/3 of the length, watered and covered. Periodically it is necessary to ventilate and humidify.

  Cuttings are part of the shoots of the current year, about 15 cm long

• To root the layering in the spring, they bend down, fix and sprinkle with earth the branches located close to the ground. The following year, early in the spring, the shoot is separated with secateurs and transplanted to another place for growing for another year. Then they are transferred to a permanent place.

  To root the layering in the spring, they bend, fix and sprinkle with earth the branches located close to the ground.

• For dividing the bush, you can use a plant no older than 5 years. Only low-growing varieties are propagated in this way. Before bud break, the plant is dug up and divided with secateurs or a knife. The cut is processed crushed charcoal and planted.

  When dividing a bush, each part should have 2-3 shoots

Diseases and pests

Barberry has few pests. Aphids appear on young shoots and leaves. You can quickly notice it. The leaves begin to curl. To destroy the pest, you can use Inta-Vir, Actellik preparations. If there are few aphids, a soapy solution will come in handy (3 tbsp. Dishwashing liquid per 1 liter of water). In addition, the plant can be affected by the flower moth (spoils the berries) and the sawfly. To destroy them, drugs are used:

• Aktara,
• Karate,
• Karbofos.

All products are prepared strictly according to the instructions.

Moth caterpillar - one of the barberry pests

Barberry is rarely affected by fungal diseases.

Table: how to deal with barberry diseases

To prevent diseases, the plants and the soil under it are treated three times with Bordeaux liquid. The treatment interval is 1 time in 3 weeks.

Types and varieties of barberry

Of all the species, the most decorative Thunberg barberry. Dwarf plants from 30 cm with red, yellow, green and variegated foliage - that's all. Its fruits are unsuitable for food, very bitter.

• Green Carpet. Low shrub up to 1 m high with a spreading crown. Dense foliage, light green in summer, turns bright orange, yellow and red in autumn. Flowers are pale greenish. Light-requiring, but tolerates light shade. It is drought-resistant, frost-resistant, resistant to diseases and pests. Young plants up to 2–3 years old need shelter in winter; in Siberia, the Urals and northeast Russia, this is done up to 5 years.

  In autumn, the barberry bush Green Carpet becomes like a colorful blanket

• Admireshin. Shrub with a lush crown and beautiful red leaves with bright yellow edging. The flowers are pale pink, bloom in late May. The berries are dark red. The plant is very decorative, tolerates shaping well. Unpretentious in care, frost-resistant, easily tolerates lack of moisture. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests.

  Barberry Admireyshin has beautiful leaves with golden edging

• Erekta. Dwarf variety (up to 0.5 m). The crown is pyramidal. The leaves are green. Frost and drought resistant. Unpretentious. Rarely affected by disease.

  The Erekta variety is rarely affected by diseases.

• Gold ring. Bush of medium size. Leaves have golden edging. Undemanding in care.
• Carmen. The leaves are blood red. The plant reaches a height of 1 m in 10 years. In the shade loses the brightness of the leaves. Resistant to frost and gas contamination.

  Foliage barberry Carmen attracts attention

• Golden Rocket. Height up to 1.5 m. It grows slowly. The maximum height reaches 10 years. Leaves yellow- Green colour.
• Natasha. Compact spherical shrub. The leaves are green with white-pink spots. Frost resistance up to -35 ° C. In the shade it loses its color brightness. The fruits are decorative, but not used for food.

  The coloring of barberry leaves Natasha is unusual and attractive

• Orange Rocket. Columnar shrub up to 1 m high. Crown diameter 0.5 m. It grows slowly. Frost and drought resistant. The leaves are small, yellow-orange, turning bright red in autumn. In the shade, the foliage loses its brightness.
• Pink glow. Tall, up to 2 m, spreading shrub. The leaves are purple with white and pink spots. Frost resistance up to -35 o C.

  Variety Pink Light lives up to its name

• Helmut Pillar. Columnar (up to 1.5 m) shrub. The leaves are small, dark red, turning green in the shade. Frost-resistant. Drought resistant. Handles haircut well. Unpretentious.
• Harlequin. Shrub 1.5–2 m high and a crown width of about 2 m. Purple leaves with white spots turn amber-golden in autumn. Handles haircut well. Used for joint landings as bright accent. Frost-resistant. Shelter for the winter is necessary only for young plants, when grown in a harsh climate. Drought tolerant. Rarely affected by disease.

  Variegated leaves of barberry Harlequin are very beautiful

• Auria. Shrub about 80 cm high. Leaves turn yellow-orange in autumn. It blooms in May, covered with yellow fragrant tassels. The fruits are red, ripen in autumn and remain on the branches for a long time. Drought tolerant. Rarely affected by disease. Frost-resistant. When grown in the shade, the leaves lose their brightness and turn green.

  The yellow foliage of the Auria barberry is combined with the greenery of coniferous trees.

• Kobold. Dwarf shrub only 40 cm tall and dense spherical crown about 50 cm in diameter. Leaves are yellow-green in summer, yellow-crimson in autumn, can grow in light shade. In May, beautiful yellow-red flowers open for several weeks. Frost and drought resistant. Rarely affected by disease.

  The size of the Kobold barberry is suitable for an alpine slide

• Bagatelle. Another dwarf variety. mature plant with a height of only 30 cm, it has a dense crown with a diameter of about 60 cm. The foliage is red-brown in summer and dark red in autumn. Bagatelle goes well with other plants in park compositions. Grows slowly. Frost and drought resistant. Rarely sick.

  Bagatelle goes well with other plants in park compositions.

The Tibetan barberry used to be known in Russia as Dereza vulgaris. O healing properties its berries have been known for a long time and widely used in folk medicine. One of the most famous species is Goji Shambhala. This is a sprawling bush up to 3 m high. It blooms from June to October, at the same time berries ripen. Unpretentious in care. It grows on any soil, except for marshy ones. Prefers sunny places, but in the shade it will grow and bear fruit. Frost and drought resistant. Very prickly. Handles haircut well.

Shambhala goji fruits look like small peppers

Red-leaved varieties of Canadian (or Ottawa) barberry are not very common in Russia. The leaves have a color from dark purple to bluish-red, which goes well with greenery in parks and squares. He tolerates a haircut well. The height of adult plants is from 1.5 to 3 m. It grows rapidly. Tolerates frosts down to -35 o C. When grown in the southern regions and middle lane Russia does not require shelter. In Siberia and the Urals, it grows well with warming in the winter.

A popular variety of Canadian barberry is Superba. Tall, fast-growing shrub up to 2.5 m. The leaves are almost purple turn purple in summer and autumn. Unpretentious. In May, yellow-red flowers appear, collected in a brush. The fruits are bright red and ripen in October. Annual shoots grow up to 35 cm per season. It is drought- and frost-resistant. Little affected by disease.

Barberry Superba has purple leaves

Besides him, excellent decorative qualities have such varieties of Canadian (Ottawa) barberry as:

• Auricoma,
• Atropurpuria,
• Silver Miles.

Amur barberry in wild nature grows in the Far East, China and Japan. This is a tall, up to 3 m, shrub with a slightly branched spreading crown. The berries are edible. Bright green in summer, turning golden red in autumn. The flowers are light yellow and very fragrant. Rust resistant. In Siberia, it can grow without shelter. Tolerates lack of moisture. Undemanding in care.

The flowering plant of the Amur barberry is fragrant and beautiful

Evergreen (or ordinary) barberry is a fairly large shrub up to 2 m high, and about the same in diameter. This is a slow growing species. The leaves are narrow and long (up to 10 cm), bright green above and bluish-green below. Frost-resistant. Disease resistant. The leaves stay on the branches all winter and fall off when they begin to grow back in the spring. Handles haircut well. Resistant to gas contamination of the urban atmosphere.

The common barberry has plants with unusual color fruits. In the Alba variety they are white, while in the Lutea variety they are pale yellow.

The black barberry actually has green-colored leaves that turn bright red in autumn, and bronze in color after frost. And they call it that because of the dark blue, almost black, berries. This is a warty barberry. His homeland Western China. Grows slowly. The height of an adult plant is 1–1.5 m. It withstands frosts down to -30 ° C. Drought-resistant. Handles haircut well.

The warty barberry has dark blue berries with a waxy coating.

Barberry as a houseplant

Suitable for growing at home dwarf varieties barberry Thunberg:

• Bagatelle,
• Erekta,
• kobold,
• Natasha.

Since the species tolerates pruning well, the shape of the crown and the height of the plant can be easily adjusted. Barberry in the apartment will give you no more trouble than any indoor plant. cultivation miniature trees how art originated in Japan many centuries ago. This is a well-known bonsai. For this, coniferous and deciduous plants are used, which in nature may not be small. Barberry is ideal for creating bonsai. It tolerates pruning well and is very flexible in creating such compositions.

Barberry makes amazing miniatures

Features of caring for homemade barberry:

• Landing is carried out in a mixture of coarse sand, soddy soil and compost (2: 2: 1). At the bottom of the pot, be sure to pour a layer of stones or expanded clay. When planting, cut the roots a little and shorten the shoots by 2/3.
• Watered as needed. In spring and summer, frequent irrigation has a beneficial effect on the plant, especially on hot days. In autumn and winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. Since in heating season the air in the apartment is very dry, then periodic spraying from a spray bottle is useful for the plant, but not during flowering.
• For top dressing, use any organic fertilizer in the form of powder or granules (according to instructions) once a month from May to September.
• When pruning, the cut quickly becomes indistinguishable in color from the bark and does not require additional processing.
• Barberry can grow on a sunny window and in a shaded room, but in order for the variegated varieties not to lose their brightness, the plant needs good lighting and additional lighting in winter.
• In summer, the plant will feel good on an open balcony.
• Diseases and pests in indoor barberry are the same as in nature, and the same drugs are used to combat them.

Dwarf varieties of barberry can be grown in a container (for placement on terraces). Planting and caring for such a plant is no different from growing in a garden or in an apartment.

Features of cultivation in the regions

Barberry can grow in various climatic conditions. In the southern regions, it easily tolerates drought. mild winters do not require high frost resistance. The plant puts up with the gas content of urban air, which allows it to be widely used for landscaping parks. The warm climate makes it possible to choose almost any type and variety of barberry for planting.

In central Russia, for cultivation, it is better to opt for plants with frost resistance of at least -20 ° C. This requirement is met by:

• most varieties of barberry Thunberg,
• Canadian,
• amur,
• warty.

Barberry with frost resistance up to -20–25 ° C is suitable for the Moscow region. You can choose varieties:

• Canadian (Ottawa) - Superba,
• ordinary - Alba variegata,
• barberry Thunberg:
  • Harlequin,
  • Green Carpet,
  • Carmen and others.

Since in the Moscow region, soils are often high-lying ground water, when planting, a good drainage device is required (or seedlings must be placed on a hill or hillside). Young plants for the first 3-5 years must be covered for the winter. In the Golden Rocket variety, it is recommended to tie the crown or wrap it with a net for the winter, since it can fall apart during heavy snowfalls. During humid, cool summers, possible fungal diseases so prevention is The best way do not allow them.

In Siberia, varieties with high frost resistance are most suitable for cultivation:

• canadian barberry,
• amur,
• ordinary,
• warty.

They are adapted to harsh conditions and tolerate frost well with a lot of snow. For these plants, shelter is needed in the first 3-5 years. Barberry Thunberg can also be grown in this region, but with mandatory shelter for the winter, not only young, but also adult plants. In this case, dwarf varieties are suitable for the Siberian climate. As an option, it is possible to grow plants in a container, with wintering in a greenhouse or a room where the temperature will not be very low.

Barberry is the main representative of the family of the same name. This is a spectacular shrub with beautiful leaves and prickly shoots. It is very difficult not to notice the barberry during flowering and fruiting, because at this time it is especially beautiful. In nature, there are about one hundred and seventy species of this plant, each of them has its own characteristics and distinctive features.

Species diversity of barberries

Many of us remember the same Barberry sweets, syrups and lemonades that were so popular during the Soviet era. All these products were made from berries of edible barberry species. Now many gardeners grow this unpretentious plant on their site. However, not all species take root in our latitudes, but only those that have managed to adapt to a temperate climate.

Bright berries of barberry are hard to miss among garden greenery.

The genus of barberries includes many species, among which there are both evergreen and deciduous plants. common feature of these shrubs is the presence of thorns - single, double, triple, and sometimes even five pieces together. They are located at the base of the kidneys, can be very hard or soft, almost invisible.

Barberry bushes bloom from late May to early July. Flowers yellow, small. The berries are light or dark red, sometimes black, with a pronounced sour taste, but quite edible.

Barberry plantations look very decorative throughout the season. Deciduous species are a real decoration autumn garden thanks to the bright color of the leaves and berries.

Barberry bushes adorn the garden throughout the season

Edible species

No home garden is complete without fruit trees. Even the laziest gardeners plant their plots with raspberries, apple trees, pears, but few people prefer this unpretentious plant like barberry. In addition to nutritional value, it is also worth noting its healing and decorative properties.

The common barberry is most common in the Caucasus and southern Europe, but it can also grow in Siberia. Shrubs of this species are resistant to frost, can withstand temperatures up to -35 degrees. The main condition for growing is the placement of plants in sunny and dry areas. Planting in the shade negatively affects the taste and quantity of fruits.

Common barberry is one of the most common members of the family, which is characterized by unpretentiousness and high frost resistance.

The common barberry has a lot of varieties, namely:

Recipe for barberry syrup. To prepare, you need to mash the berries with the addition of water, then squeeze out the juice. After that, the liquid must be brought to a boil, passed through the filter and add granulated sugar.

Video: characteristics and useful properties of barberry

Plants of this species are shrubs reaching a height of up to 3.5 m. The shoots have spines up to 2 cm long. Depending on the season, the color of the leaves may change, acquiring a reddish tint in autumn. In spring, small yellow flowers appear on the bushes, which have a pleasant aroma. In November, the flowers are replaced by bright red fruits.

Amur barberry is characterized by abundant flowering and fruiting

This species is best known for two varieties:

• Japonica - characterized by more rounded leaves and a small number of flowers on the brushes.
• Orpheus is a non-flowering variety bred by Russian breeders solely for decorative purposes. Bush height - 1 m.

This type of barberry grows in Central Asia, Mongolia and China. It is its fruits that are part of traditional Asian dishes, such as lagman, shurpa and pilaf. The shrub can reach up to two meters in height. Shiny reddish shoots are covered in spring showy leaves dark green. Blooming in early June, yellow-orange inflorescences have a pronounced aroma. The fruits are painted black, covered with a bluish coating on top.

The spherical barberry is not too adapted to climatic conditions Russia. If you decide to plant this shrub in your garden, make sure you have a good shelter.

The fruits of the spherical barberry have excellent taste qualities.

The ripening time of barberry fruits depends on its type. Usually the harvest is taken from September to early November.

Evergreen species of barberry

Evergreen barberries include shrubs different types which are different from each other:

• bush shape;
• frost resistance;
• cultivation features;
• resistance to the conditions of the urban environment.

A living fence of evergreen barberry abounds with thorns, but at the same time it is incredibly beautiful

This species grows rather slowly, the maximum height of an adult bush reaches 2 m. Most often it is grown for decorative purposes. Barberry Darwin has bright orange-yellow flowers, in place of which black fruits with a bluish tint appear in autumn. The leaves of the shrub are quite elegant, shiny, with small spines at the ends.

Darwin's barberry has an average winter hardiness, can withstand temperatures down to minus fifteen degrees. The shrub is recommended for cultivation in the southern regions of our country.

Bright orange-yellow flowers of Darwin's barberry delight the eye in any weather

You can trim the barberry shoots a little after flowering. This will give the bushes a neater and more beautiful appearance.

Barberry Freecarta

This garden hybrid is obtained from the warty barberry. The flowering period of this species is in May. Its flowers are pale yellow, the leaves are light green, shiny. The berries are inedible, blue-black.

The species is quite resistant to low temperatures(up to -23 degrees), but recommended for growing in warm climates. Prefers sunny or semi-shady places.

Barberry Frikarta is represented by two decorative varieties:

• Amstelveen - grows up to one meter in height and up to two meters in width. Shoots are prickly, arched.
• Telstar is a slow growing shrub reaching 90 cm in circumference. The crown is dense, the leaves have a silvery underside.

Amstelveen barberry has a very compact shape

Barberry Ganyepena

Barberry Ganyepena grows slowly, at the age of 10 it can reach up to two meters in height and in diameter. The plant forms oblong shoots with thorns, having a length of about two centimeters. In May, yellow flowers bloom on the branches, which can be either single or collected in inflorescences. In early autumn, they are replaced by blue-black berries covered with white bloom. The fruits are not edible.

The most popular variety of this species is Klugowski. It was bred in 1960 by Alfons Klugowski in the Flain nursery (Germany). The variety is unpretentious, resistant to both high and low temperatures, as well as to the conditions of the urban environment. Does not like excessive moisture.

The dark green leaves of the Klugowski variety have serrated edges.

A slow-growing shrub, which at the age of 10 can reach up to two meters in length and up to four in width. The leaves of Julian's barberry reach 10 centimeters, have needles at the ends. The color of the leaves is dark green, at a young age - with a bronze tint. Flowering occurs in mid-May or early June. The flowers are collected in brushes of 8-15 pieces, painted yellow with a red frame. At the end of September, black-blue fruits ripen on the bushes.

Barberry Juliana is resistant to temperature extremes, as well as to urban conditions. Prefers a sunny area. Shrubs of this species are highly decorative, they are often used for landscaping areas.

The edges of the leaves of Juliana's barberry are protected by small but very prickly needles.

Dwarf barberries

The greatest value for landscaping are dwarf varieties of barberry Thunberg. They are great for borders and low hedges. Usually barberries are combined with conifers, however, the bushes look amazing alone.

Decorative deciduous varieties

Undersized Thunberg barberries can have different leaf colors - from pale yellow to burgundy. The following varieties are most popular:

• Bagatelle. A beautiful dwarf shrub that does not exceed 40 cm in both height and diameter. Small leaves, painted with a bright purple color, reach a length of up to 1 cm. The flowers have a delicate yellow color and grow in bunches. At the end of September, edible red berries of an oblong shape ripen on the bushes. The bagatelle is subject to freezing in winter time but fairly heat resistant. The plant is unpretentious, but it needs good lighting.

  

  Barberry Thunberg Bagatelle stands out against the general background due to the crimson color of the leaves

• Kobold. The size of an adult bush does not exceed 50 cm. Small emerald leaves (no more than 1.5 cm long) turn bright yellow in autumn. Kobold blooms in May. yellow flowers with a red rim do not exceed 1 cm in length. They are replaced in September by pink or red fruits that can be eaten. The shrub is completely undemanding to habitat conditions. Resistant to heat, frost-resistant, tolerates urban conditions. Likes to be in the sun, but also tolerates shade and partial shade.

  

  Small exquisite bushes of barberry Kobold are often used for landscaping city parks.

• Bonanza Gold. An incredibly beautiful plant with a very dense cushion-shaped crown. This small but exquisite shrub reaches a height of up to 50 cm, and a width of no more than 70. The leaves of the shrub are very small, have a bright lemon tint. The flowers, like the leaves, are yellow. In September, instead of bright flowers, edible red fruits appear. Barberry Bonanza Gold is drought and heat resistant, but in winter it can be subject to freezing, which is why it loses part of the crown. The shrub of this variety recovers very quickly and by the beginning of June takes on its former appearance.

  

  Even in bad weather, the barberry Bonanza Gold looks like it is illuminated by the sun

• Atropurpurea Nana. It is a low-growing shrub with a wide-rounded crown. The leaves have a purple color that changes to fiery red in autumn. This variety of barberry blooms from May to June. The flowers are small, painted in light yellow. Closer to September, bright red oblong berries appear on the bushes. Atropurpurea Nana prefers well-lit places, however, shady areas do not have problems with growth. The variety is quite resistant to heat and cold, does not like stagnation of moisture in the soil.

  

  The purple color of the leaves of the barberry Atropurpurea Nana with the advent of autumn turns into fiery red

Video: popular varieties of barberry

The best variegated varieties

Over the past decades, breeders have bred decorative varieties barberry Thunberg with brightly colored foliage of several colors: lemon, purple, red. Such shrubs can become a real decoration of any garden.

Among the variegated varieties of Thunberg barberry, the most decorative are:

Video: variegated forms of barberry Thunberg

Fast growing barberries

The fastest growing varieties of barberry also belong to the Thunberg species. They have a number of distinguishing features:

• An adult plant can reach three meters in height.
• The branches and trunk of shrubs are covered with thorns up to 1 cm long.
• The leaves are small, oblong, 1–3 cm long. The foliage turns red in autumn and falls off in winter.
• Flowering lasts from one to two weeks. Flowers have a yellow center, their outer side is red.
• They bear fruit annually and are very abundant. Berries reach 10 mm in length, have an elliptical shape.
• Ripe fruits of bright coral color appear on the shrub in mid-autumn and hang on the branches for a long time.

Photo gallery: the fastest growing varieties of barberry Thunberg

Barberry Thunberg Maria is a bright green shrub with an upright habit.
The brown-red barberry of Thunberg Red Chief can reach a height of up to 4 meters. The bush of Erekta barberry has an unusual columnar shape

Varieties of barberry for the Moscow region

The main criterion for choosing varieties and types of barberry for the Moscow region is their resistance to frost and urban conditions. Most popular species in this region are:

• barberry ottawa;
• common barberry;
• barberry Thunberg.

Let's take a closer look at the individual representatives of each species.

Alba variegata - variety of common barberry. The leaves of this shrub are distinguished by unusual white spots. Barberry Alba variegata reaches up to 1.5 m in height. It is unpretentious, frost-resistant, tolerates heat well, does not like stagnant moisture. It is preferable to place the shrub in a sunny place.

Barberry Alba variegata has beautiful green leaves with white spots.

Barberry Ottawa Superba

Barberry Superba can reach a height of up to 3 meters. The leaves of this shrub have a purple hue. The flowers are yellow with a red border around the edges, bloom in May. In June, bright red berries appear on the bushes, which can be eaten. The variety is frost-resistant, undemanding to the soil and the environment.

Ottawa barberry Superba s purple hue leaves retain their bright color even in the shade

This variety of barberry is quite low (up to 1m), with a flat-rounded crown. The leaves have a dark purple color, sometimes with purple tint. The shrub blooms in May. Its flowers are small and yellow. Closer to autumn, bright red oblong berries appear on the bushes.

Atropurupurea prefers sunny and bright places, but can tolerate shading. Resistant to heat and cold, does not like stagnant moisture.

Barberry Atropurpurea can be used as a bright color accent in garden arrangements

Types of barberry for Siberia

Siberia has a rather cold climate and a long frosty period. In such conditions, only some types of barberry can grow well, such as:

Video: useful properties and use of Siberian barberry

In the article we discuss the common barberry. You will learn what the shrub looks like and where it grows. We will talk about medicinal properties plants, as well as discuss the care and cultivation of barberry in the garden. We will look at recipes for herbal medicines that help with pancreatitis, diabetes, adenoids and high blood pressure. We will tell you whether it is possible to use barberry-based products during pregnancy and consider contraindications for use.

The common barberry or the eastern barberry is a deciduous shrub of the Barberry family (lat. Berberidaceae). Latin name — Berberis vulgaris. The plant is known as sour, berberis, sour blackthorn.

What does it look like

Appearance of the common barberry. The thorny shrub reaches a height of 2.5 meters. Barberry rhizome lignified, creeping. The bark of the barberry is light brown on the outside, dark yellow on the inside.

The branches of the plant are spreading and covered with thorns. Shoots erect yellow or yellow-purple. Leaves grow on short shoots, spines on long shoots.

The leaves are alternate, narrowed towards the base. They have the shape of an ellipse with a rounded or pointed top. There are small teeth along the edges of the leaves. The leaf plate reaches 4 cm in length and 2 cm in width.

Inflorescence brushes unite from 15 to 25 small yellow flowers. Each flower consists of an orange nectary, 6 petals, 6 sepals, 1 pistil and 6 stamens. It blooms in late spring - from April to May.

The buds of the plant are small, up to 1 cm long. They have a smooth surface and a pointed shape. Barberry berries are oblong, bright red in color, sour in taste. The length of the fetus reaches 12 mm. It bears fruit in early autumn - from September to October.

The seeds of the plant are flattened, no more than 7 mm long.

Where does it grow

In the wild, barberry grows throughout Europe, Asia and the Caucasus. It is found in the European part of Russia and the North Caucasus.

The shrub prefers light and dry areas of soil. The plant is found in the steppes, meadows and edges. Barberry grows in chalk and pebble areas.

Landing and care

Barberry is cultivated in summer cottages and household plots. Planted as single bushes or as a hedge. One of the most unusual and colorful varieties is the barberry thunberga atropurpurea.

Planting and caring for shrubs have their own characteristics. Barberries are planted in the spring open areas. The plant is not afraid of windy weather. For planting barberry, a trench method is used. The depth and width of the moat is 40 cm.

A layer of sand and humus is laid at the bottom of the trench, then watered, and only after that a seedling is placed there, sprinkled with earth.

The first pruning of the shrub is carried out immediately after planting.

In dry weather, the plant must be watered once a week, during the rainy season, watering is canceled. Young seedlings are watered more often - 2 times a week, until they take root.

For more information about barberry, see the following video:

Leaf and root of barberry

Barberry has been used since ancient times as a medicinal plant for the treatment of diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system and upper respiratory tract. The leaves and roots of the plant are used in the preparation of medicines.

Chemical composition

Barberry ordinary contains:

• berberine;
• palmitin;
• vitamins;
• tannins;
• oxyacanthin;
• carotene;
• resinous substances;
• organic acids;
• tocopherols.

Medicinal properties

Medicinal properties medicinal plants, including barberry, is studied by the science of pharmacognosy. With the help of it, it was found that the barberry has

1. antimicrobial,
2. antipyretic,
3. anti-inflammatory
4. astringent properties.

Thanks to the berberine that is part of the plant, barberry-based products have a choleretic effect. They also reduce the tone of the gallbladder.

Barberry is used as an anesthetic, as well as to stop bleeding - berberine increases blood clotting. Hemostatic agents with it are used to stop postpartum hemorrhage.

Barberry exhibits antibacterial and antispasmodic properties. Plant-based preparations are used to treat inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, dysentery.

Means based on barberry stop the development of cancerous tumors.

Barberry has a mild laxative effect and is also used as a diuretic. Barberry dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Based on the plant, medicinal infusions and decoctions are made.

How to collect

They start picking berries when they are not yet ripe. Unripe fruits retain their shape better. The bark of the plant is harvested in April and May. From the beginning of flowering until mid-summer, barberry flowers are harvested. The roots are harvested 2 times a year - in spring and autumn.

Barberries are dried at a temperature of not more than 50 degrees under a canopy or in a ventilated room and stored in fabric bags in a room with low humidity.

Shelf life - 3 years.

How to apply

Barberry is used in conventional and folk medicine. Dry root can be bought at any pharmacy. At home, medicinal infusions and decoctions are made from medicinal raw materials. They are used as an antipyretic and choleretic agent for the treatment of diseases of the gallbladder, with dysentery and colds.

An infusion of the plant is used to treat inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Barberry tincture normalizes metabolism and improves appetite. The drug is used to treat diseases of the liver and kidneys. The tincture eliminates liver intoxication and reduces its swelling.

With gout and rheumatism, the antiseptic and tonic properties of the plant help.

A decoction of barberry reduces the spleen enlarged during malaria.

In gynecology, barberry tincture is often used to stop uterine bleeding. The drug increases blood clotting.

Pharmaceutical drugs are produced from barberry. For example, berberine is prescribed for cholecystitis. The main active ingredient of which is berberine bisulfate. It is extracted from the leaves of barberry.

Preparations based on barberry stop the growth of cancerous tumors.

Rinsing the mouth with a decoction of barberry eliminates the inflammatory process.

Infusion and decoction of the plant is used for lotions for eczema and for wound healing.

Decoction for rinsing with adenoids

Adenoids - inflammation of the adenoids. This disease occurs in children 2 years of age and older. For the treatment of inflamed tonsils in childhood use an infusion of barberry for gargling.

For oral administration, the homeopathic preparation Barberry Comp Iov-baby is prescribed. This remedy is safe for children, as it contains a low concentration of active ingredients.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry root - 20 gr.
2. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour the barberry root with boiling water, put on a slow fire and simmer under the lid for 5 minutes. Cool the finished broth and strain through cheesecloth.

How to use: Gargle 2-3 times during the day.

Result: The tool relieves inflammation and has an analgesic effect. With regular use eliminates swelling of the adenoids.

Infusion for pancreatitis

For the treatment of diseases of the pancreas, an aqueous infusion of barberry is used. It has a choleretic and analgesic effect. The remedy relieves inflammation and reduces the tone of the walls of the gallbladder.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry leaves - 10 gr.
2. Water - 250 ml.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over the grass, put in a water bath and bring to a boil. Stir the broth over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the stove, cover, wrap with a towel and let it brew for 2 hours. Strain the cooled infusion through a strainer.

How to use: Take 10 ml 3-4 times a day before meals.

Result: Infusion of barberry relieves inflammation of the pancreas and has a choleretic effect. The tool effectively relieves pain.

Infusion for diabetes

To lower blood sugar levels, you can eat fresh barberry berries or take infusions based on them. The juice of the plant saturates the body with vitamins, improves metabolism and reduces thirst, which often occurs with diabetes.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry berries - 20 gr.
2. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Grind the barberry berries, put them in a thermos, pour boiling water over it and let it brew for at least 3-4 hours.

How to use: Take an infusion of half a glass before each meal, but no more than 5 times a day.

Result: The infusion strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes metabolism and lowers blood sugar levels.

pressure tincture

Barberry effectively reduces pressure, tones and strengthens blood vessels. Plant-based products are used in complex therapy for hypertension.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry flowers - 30 gr.
2. Vodka - 200 ml.

How to cook: Pour vegetable raw materials into a glass jar, fill with vodka and put in a dark, cool place for two weeks. The finished tincture has a cherry color and sour taste.

How to use: Take 20 drops of tincture 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks, then you need to take a break for a week and resume treatment.

Result: Tincture dilates blood vessels, helps lower blood pressure. Regular intake of the drug normalizes blood pressure.

Barberry during pregnancy (breastfeeding)

Barberry has a strengthening effect on the immune system, which is especially important during pregnancy. But despite this, it is strictly forbidden to use any medicines based on barberry during the period of expectation of the baby and during breastfeeding.

The plant contains a large amount of alkaloids that are harmful to the body of a pregnant woman. In addition, barberry stimulates the contraction of different muscle groups, which can lead to miscarriage.

Preparations based on barberry can cause swelling and lead to the formation of blood clots.

During pregnancy, it is permissible to eat sauces and seasonings based on barberry, but only in moderation.

Barberry in cooking

The barberry leaf and berries of the plant are used in cooking to prepare various dishes. For example, they are added to pilaf, sauces or seasonings.

Barberry is used to make jams and jams. The well-known candies "Barberry" contain the essence of the plant's berries.

Barberry juice has a sour taste and can replace lemon juice. Vitamin compotes are brewed from barberry fruits, and tea is also infused.

Contraindications

Contraindications to taking funds based on barberry:

• uterine bleeding before separation of the placenta;
• children's age up to 12 years;
• period of pregnancy and lactation;
• individual intolerance;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• cholelithiasis;
• stomach ulcer.

Do not eat green barberry berries as they are poisonous.

Classification

Common barberry (lat. Berberis vulgaris) is a species of the genus Barberry (lat. Berberis). The Barberry family (lat. Berberidaceae), to which the barberry belongs, unites 19 genera of plants. The common barberry belongs to the order Ranunculaceae (lat. Ranunculales), class Dicotyledonous (lat. Dicotyledones), Flowering department (lat. Magnoliophyta).

Varieties

The genus Barberry unites 580 plant species. The most famous of them:

• Amur barberry;
• Barberry ordinary;
• Barberry purple;
• Barberry reticulate;
• Barberry multiflorous;
• Barberry Wilson;
• Barberry warty;
• Barberry hawthorn.

Barberry common infographics

Photo of common barberry, its useful properties and application
Infographics on common barberry

What to remember

1. Common barberry is used as an ornamental plant, as well as in cooking and as a medicinal raw material for medicinal preparations.
2. Barberry lowers blood pressure, has choleretic, analgesic and antibacterial effects.
3. In spite of wide area application, the plant has a number of contraindications that you need to familiarize yourself with.

Starts to lose color.

Barberry - ornamental and fruit bush, barberry berries are live candies: they cool, sweeten and sour, in addition, they are used to make jams, preserves, compotes and tinctures. Juice from barberry berries has pronounced antibacterial and antipyretic properties. Barberry leaves are used for marinades, their infusion can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent for diseases of the biliary tract and liver.

Types of barberry: variety and attractiveness

Despite the fact that the barberry shrub is a fairly old and well-known "guest" in our front gardens, now it is experiencing a new surge of interest in itself. Today, a wide variety of barberry varieties have appeared: creeping forms they are used to strengthen and mask slopes, pyramidal species are used to set up coolies, individual specimens with a bright leaf are used for solitary plantings.

Of more than 170 species, we present the most popular:

• common barberry - branched shrub growing up to 3 m in height. Shoots erect, abundantly dotted with thorns, leaves - saturated green colors. Flowers - bright yellow, collected in racemose inflorescences, with a delicate honey aroma. In the first year the branches are yellow or yellowish-purple, which in the second year change color to greyish -white. Fruiting is plentiful, annual, the berries are bright red, suitable for food, although species with yellow and even white fruits are cultivated. The view is perfectly adapted to urban conditions, tolerates numerous haircuts, and is very frost-resistant. Undemanding to the soil, not picky about the lighting regime, although it develops better with good lighting.
• barberry Thunberg - a low (up to 1 m) deciduous shrub that feels great in the polluted atmosphere of a modern metropolis. Drought-resistant, not picky about the composition of the soil. The leaves are small, oblong, graceful, reach a length of up to 3 cm, bright green, the lower part is gray-gray, in autumn they change color to bright red, yellow, orange and even Violet. Young shoots have an attractive color - purple-red, yellowish or bright red, becoming brown or purple-brown with age.

• The branches are abundantly covered with hard (about 1 cm) thorns, therefore, in landscape design, this species is often used to create impenetrable hedges. And since the bush easily tolerates a haircut, it is easy to maintain their correct shape. In addition, often used in Japanese and stone, on the banks reservoirs, in landscape compositions. Flowering lasts 8-12 days, flowers are solitary, reddish outside, yellow inside. In autumn, spectacular-looking fruits appear - elliptical in shape, coral-red, shiny, but at the same time - absolutely inedible.

• barberry Maria - one of the many varieties of barberry Thunberg, with a dense columnar crown, reaching a width of 50 cm. The shoots are straight, vertical, slightly branched, can reach a height of 90-100 cm. The leaves are golden yellow, along the edges - a carmine-red border, in the autumn they acquire an expressive bright orange-red color

• barberry orange - comes in two varieties. Orange Rocket attracts with a bright two-tone - young leaves and shoots are orange, which “with age” become beet-colored, and with the onset of autumn they change color to red. Orange Dream is a low shrub with a spreading crown. It is especially good in autumn - its leaves turn bright red and do not fall off until frost. The bush "blazes", diluting the dullness of the pre-winter garden

• barberry golden - will become a bright spot of sunshine on your site. This is a small (up to 50 cm in height, crown diameter does not exceed 1 m) bush with a cushion-shaped dense crown, it remains attractive throughout the growing season. The color of the leaves depends on the degree of illumination and is from light green to golden yellow. Very low annual growth

• barberry Atropurpurea – medium-high (1.5-1.8 meters) shrub, retaining spectacular, rich purple red-brown leaves throughout the season. Flowering occurs at the beginning of June and lasts, on average, 12 days. It reproduces well - rooting of summer cuttings is almost 100%, seed germination - 90%

• barberry superba – large enough (can reach 4m in height and in diameter) ornamental shrub. Leaves are dark in summer red, with a bluish bloom, in autumn they change color to orange and bright red. Add attractiveness to the shrub and bright red berries ripening in September, densely placed throughout the bush. Flowering occurs in May, the flowers are red-yellow, collected in racemose inflorescences up to 5 cm long.

• barberry rocket - purple-leaved columnar variety, with vertical shoots and short branches. Leaves are red-brown. Looks spectacular in a single landing against the backdrop of bright greenery

• barberry red - red-leaved varieties of barberries, which include Red Chief, Red Pillar, Red Carpet, etc.

Barberry: planting and care

Despite the diversity of barberry species and their differences, they all need the same planting and care conditions. First of all, you should take care of the illumination of the site - in order to get bright foliage of saturated colors, the barberry should receive enough Sveta. In partial shade, the brightness of color and varietal features begin to be lost, all leaves acquire a greenish tint. The exception is the yellow barberry "Aurea", the leaves of which can burn in the sun, so it is preferable to choose partial shade for it.

The soil

The two main requirements are good drainage (barberry does not tolerate stagnant water) and soil of normal acidity. On peaty acidic soils, liming will be required - when planting under a bush, 300-400 g of lime, 200 g of wood ash are added. It does not hurt to add sand - this will improve aeration.

Advice! To obtain a hedge, barberry is planted at the rate of 2 bushes per linear meter. With a single landing between the bushes maintain a distance of at least 2 m.

Care

Barberry needs constant loosening (weeding) of the soil under the bushes - this will improve the structure of the soil and its aeration, and protect it from waterlogging. Under the crown, soil mulching can be carried out - with sawdust, peat, etc.

Advice! Since the barberry is cross-pollinated, several bushes must be planted side by side to obtain berries.

top dressing

Barberry is fertilized in the spring in the second year after planting, applying nitrogen fertilizers - 25-30 g of urea per bucket of water. The next top dressing is carried out only after 3-4 years

Watering

The barberry bush does not need frequent watering, it will have enough moisture obtained from natural precipitation. In case of severe drought, it is recommended to water once a week, warm water, directing the jet strictly under the root.

pruning

A rather troublesome operation, primarily due to the abundance of thorns. In the spring, after wintering, sanitary pruning is carried out - all frozen, broken, damaged, diseased, dry and weak shoots are removed, treating the places of cuts with garden pitch. It is worth remembering that flowering and fruit formation in barberry occurs on 2-year-old branches, which, after fruiting, can be cut off until the very cold. When creating hedges, the bushes are pruned starting from the 2nd year of planting. Barberry undersized varieties practically does not need pruning, with the exception of diseased and dried branches.