Care of the shrub Berberis thunbergii or Japanese barberry |
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The genus Berberis, family Berberidaceae, comprises 450 species of shrubs native to temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. Some species are: Berberis tumbergii, Berberis darwinii, Berberis vulgaris, Berberis wilsoniae, Berberis polyantha, Berberis buxifolia, Berberis candidula, Berberis julianae. Common names: Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry, Red barberry. This species is native to Japan and western Asia. They are perennial or deciduous shrubs (depending on the variety) with green, glaucous or purple leaves. The branches are thorny and elegant. The flowers are yellow, small and in some cases perfumed. It blooms in spring. The fruits are red berries and appear in autumn. They are used in rockery, to form hedges, bushy groups or as isolated specimens on the lawn. Berberis thunbergii needs full sun exposure if it has glaucous or purple leaves; those with green leaves can be located in full sun or semi-shade. They can grow in any type of soil, but they prefer that it contain organic matter. In late autumn it's recommended to fertilize with compost. In spring fertilize every 15-20 days with mineral fertilizer. They are plants resistant to pests and diseases. They propagate easily by cuttings in late summer or by seeds in spring. |
Images of the shrub Berberis thunbergii or Japanese barberry |
 Berberis thunbergii  Berberis thunbergii  Berberis thunbergii  Berberis thunbergii  Berberis thunbergii  Berberis thunbergii  Berberis vulgaris |