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If we consider the varieties, photos and descriptions of the Thunberg barberry, it becomes clear how beautiful the shrub is. This plant will decorate the landscape design, fit perfectly into the garden, and play the role of a hedge. Today, there are more than 500 species of barberry, but a small part of this number is grown. Before you start planting a culture, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with its features in advance. This is due to the fact that not all types may be suitable for specific regions.
What does barberry look like
Barberry is a thorny shrub that grows up to 3 m in height, depending on the variety. The root system of the plant is lignified, creeping. The bark is light brown on the outside and dark yellow on the inside.
The crown consists of spreading branches, which, in turn, are covered with small thorns. Young shoots stand upright, as a rule, they are yellow or yellow-purple in color. Leaves and thorns also grow on small shoots.
If we consider the foliage, then it has the shape of an ellipse, the base is narrowed, the top can be rounded or pointed. Small denticles are located along the edge of the leaf. The length of the sheet plate is 4 cm and the width is 2 cm.
Each cluster has 15-25 small yellow flowers. Each flower has an orange nectary, 6 petals, sepals and stamens, 1 pistil. Flowering occurs in late spring and lasts until May.
Emerging buds are small, maximum 1 cm in length. The surface is smooth, the shape is slightly pointed. In most cases, the fruits are oblong, deep red, sour. Fruiting lasts from September to October.
Varieties of barberry shrub
There is a wide variety of barberry varieties with different leaf and fruit colors. Despite such a number of species, they can be divided into several groups. Among the most famous and popular varieties, the following types are worth noting:
- Ordinary - shrub, up to 2 m high, withstanding low temperature conditions. When the barberry reaches 4 years old, the first berries appear. In this form, 3 popular varieties can be distinguished - Atropurpurea, Albovarigata, Aureomarginata;
- Canadian - barberry, which grows mainly in the wild in North America. Flowering occurs in late spring. The shrub easily tolerates drought and low temperatures. Visually, the Common and Canadian species are nearly identical;
- Amursky - according to the description, it resembles an ordinary barberry, the only thing is that it grows up to 3 m in height. Deep red berries, they can be eaten;
- Ottawa - this variety is a hybrid. It was obtained by crossing Atropurpurea and Thunberg. The fruits are yellow, the leaves are often orange, but there are also red;
- Thunberg - one of the most popular and well-known varieties, which is of interest not only to amateur gardeners, but also professional landscape designers.
Before planting a specific variety, it is recommended that you first study the information about it in detail and only after that start buying planting material.
Types and varieties of barberry shrubs
In the garden area, the plants create a unique atmosphere thanks to the spreading crown and a variety of shades, which can vary from light lemon tones to maroon flowers.
If necessary, the bush can be given any geometric shape: a circle, a square, a bouquet. Shrubs can be used as a central composition or as a living fence. Some varieties have edible fruits.
Not every garden plant can boast of such an abundance of species and varieties. Today there are more than 500 species that can be giants - 3 m in height and tiny - 30-40 cm in height.
Barberry yellow
Yellow varieties of barberry have a rather bright color and a large number of red fruits. As an exception, the Alba and Luteyu varieties can be cited as an example.
Lutea - common barberry, reaching a height of up to 2 m. Shoots are yellow, leaves are long (6 cm) with a pale green tint. Flowers appear in brushes. Each cluster contains 20 inflorescences. Ripe fruits become pale yellow and grow up to 1 cm long.
In addition, species with rich bright yellow foliage can be distinguished. These mainly include the varieties of the Thunberg barberry:
- Aurea;
- Tini Gold;
- Maria;
- Diabolicum.
Maria - a plant with a spreading crown, thorny bushes. The level of frost resistance is medium. In the spring it acquires yellow foliage, which turns red and green in summer.
Barberry black
There is an Asian variety that produces black fruits after a flowering period. The bushes are quite large, on average they are up to 2 m high. Flowering and fruiting are carried out regularly. Since the shrub is able to withstand low temperature conditions, you can not be afraid that in the winter the barberry will freeze, you can hide it for wintering, but this is not necessary. The shrub has spines up to 1.5 cm long, while the fruits reach 1 cm.
Barberry red
Siberian barberry is a variety that grows in Siberia and Kazakhstan. The shrub reaches a height of 1 m. Flowering and fruiting occurs after the shrub is 6 years old. The flowering period is 12 days, it begins at the end of May, and in August you can see the appearance of fruits. The berries are deep red, the foliage is green. If you need a barberry with red fruits and leaves, then you can pay attention to the Ottawa look.
Variegated barberry
Variegated varieties of barberry were known at the beginning of the 20th century, but today their popularity has grown many times over. When developing this variety, the Thunberg barberry was taken as a basis.
Among the variegated species, it is worth highlighting the Admiration variety. The shrub has an attractive appearance, grows rather slowly, the annual growth is a maximum of 4 cm, the height of an adult plant is 50 cm, the color of the leaves is unusual - red with a frame in yellow tones. During the flowering period, red-yellow flowers appear, which are replaced by fruits of a rich, bright red color. It is important to understand that berries of this type cannot be eaten.
Barberry dwarf
The dwarf variety of barberry is often used as decorative borders. Shrubs are planted along the walls of buildings and structures or on the lawn. If we consider the most popular dwarf species in height, then we can distinguish:
- Atropurpurea - 30-50 cm;
- Cobolt - 50 cm;
- Bagatelle - 50 cm.
The Bagatelle variety deserves special attention. The shrub forms a ball-shaped crown during its growth.Leaves can change color: in summer they are brown, in autumn they are of a noble dark red hue.
Barberry varieties Thunberg
Thunberg is a barberry with the largest number of varieties. This species is resistant to many diseases, as a result of which it is so fond of landscape designers.
In addition to its attractive decorative appearance, the shrub has 1 advantage among other species - it is easy to topiary haircut. Thanks to its spreading and dense crown, the Thunberg variety is used mainly for hedges.
Kobold
Kobold belongs to the dwarf variety of Thunberg barberry. The shrub reaches a maximum height of 50 cm, about the same in width. Young shoots appear in early April and are dark brown in color. The leaves are small, the length varies from 1 to 1.5 cm, the shape is ovoid. In the spring, the foliage is green, in the summer it turns yellow. The flowering period is in early May. Inflorescences are yellow with a red rim. The fruits can be red or pink. Since the berries are suitable for human consumption, they are harvested in September.
Golden Pillar
Golden Pillar belongs to the columnar variety of barberry. The shrub is quite large, its height is 2 m, diameter is 1 m. The color of the foliage changes depending on the season. For example, in spring the bush is covered with yellow leaves, in summer it acquires green tones, and in autumn it becomes a rich red hue. A distinctive feature is the ability to tolerate low temperature conditions. So that the bush does not lose its decorative appearance, it must be planted in sunny areas.
Green Carpet
Green Carpet is a sprawling and cushion-shaped variety that grows up to 50 cm in height and up to 1 m in width. This shrub has light green foliage, the crown is quite dense, has the shape of a ball. In the autumn, the shrub acquires red foliage, attracting the eyes with its bright appearance. Barberry of this species is an unpretentious plant that grows well in a temperate climate. The bush can be planted in group compositions with conifers and deciduous species, while looking great apart on a small hill.
The best edible varieties of barberry
Some types of barberry bear edible fruits that are rich in vitamins of group C. If we consider the yield level from 1 bush, then there were cases when gardeners collected up to 10 kg of barberry. Often, red fruits are used as spices, in addition, jam, compotes, and jelly are prepared from berries. Edible barberry varieties are versatile shrubs, because they not only decorate the land, but also give a rich harvest.
Ordinary
The common barberry is a tree-like shrub with a spreading crown. Grows in the Caucasus, Southern Europe, Siberia. The shrub is undemanding to the place of growth, which is why it can often be found in places with chalk deposits, river gravels.
A distinctive feature is the ability to withstand temperatures down to -35 ° C. As a rule, barberry loves to grow in sunny and dry areas. If you plant a shrub in the shade, it will greatly affect the quantity and taste of the crop.
Amursky
The Amur variety grows in the Far East, Korea, China. For the first time this species was discovered by botanists on the banks of the Amur, as a result of which the plant received such a name.
In height it can reach a maximum of 3.5 m, there are not so many bushes, the crown is spreading with a large number of thorns. The shoots are yellow, over time it changes to a gray-yellow hue. The color of the leaves changes depending on the season: in summer - rich green, in autumn - bright red. The fruits grow red in color with a shiny skin, suitable for human consumption. The harvest begins in November.
Canadian
Areola of growth - valley and river banks of North America.Abundant flowering occurs in the second half of May, the shrub is able to tolerate drought and frost. When compared visually, it has strong similarities with the ordinary species. This variety is little known to Russian gardeners, but breeders in Canada and America are actively improving the shrub. Today, they want to make it decorative to the maximum, as a result of which the level of yield and taste of the fruit suffers.
Globular
The shrub is capable of growing up to 2 m in height. In the process of flowering, this species will not go unnoticed, as it exudes a strong odor. It grows mainly on the slopes in Central Asia, Mongolia, in the west of China. The fruits appear in blue-gray shades with a strong aroma. It is these berries that are used to prepare traditional dishes in Asia - lagman, pilaf.
Barberry varieties for hedges
Today, residents of Russia use about 20 ornamental varieties of barberry for hedges. Only 3 of them deserve special attention:
- Ordinary;
- Ottawa;
- Thunberg.
Due to the fact that these species grow well at low temperature conditions, this allows them to be grown in Siberia. If you know the characteristics of each species, then you can make the right choice as quickly as possible and provide the shrubs with proper care.
Ordinary
This barberry is one of the most hardy and strong varieties. Common barberry can be used for planting in regions with harsh winters and poor soil. This type is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, decorative appearance, as a result of which it can become an excellent decoration for a land plot. The plant reaches a height of 2.5 m, the fruits are edible.
Ottawa
The Ottawa variety was bred by breeders after crossing Atropurpurea and Common barberry. For the first time the shrub appeared on the territory of Canada. Since this species has an increased level of frost resistance, it can be grown in regions with low temperature conditions. In most cases, the shrub is purple, yellow and red.
Thunberg
The Thunberg variety is one of the most popular and widespread, including a large number of barberry species. Distinctive features of all available varieties are the height of the plants and the colors of the foliage. The height varies from 70 cm to 1.5 m. The bright appearance and decorativeness of the plant attract gardeners and landscape designers, as a result of which the Thunberg barberry is used as a hedge. The most striking is the Thunberg red-leaved barberry.
The best varieties of barberry for the Moscow region
When choosing a barberry for growing in the Moscow region, you should pay attention to the resistance of the selected variety to low temperature conditions and the ability to grow in urban conditions. If we consider the most popular species that are ideally suited to the climatic conditions of a given area, then barberry can be distinguished:
- Ordinary;
- Thunberg;
- Ottawa.
To get to know better, you need to consider these types of barberry with their photos and names.
Alba variegata
Alba variegata is a representative of the common barberry variety. A distinctive feature of the shrub is the leaves with noticeable spots of white. The plant can reach a height of up to 1.5 m. This species is unpretentious to the place of growth, is able to withstand low temperature conditions, heat.
Superba
Superba is a type of Ottawa barberry.The shrub is quite tall, it can grow up to 3 m. The plant is able to attract with its appearance - purple foliage. In May, the first flowers appear, having a rich yellow tint and a small frame around the edges of red. In the second half of June, fruits begin to form. The berries are deep red and can be eaten if needed. The advantage of this barberry is a high level of frost resistance.
Atropurpurea
Atropurpurea - refers to the Thunberg barberry variety. Bushes are decorative, small. The maximum height is 1 m. The crown has a flat-round shape. The foliage is dark purple in color, sometimes shrubs with purple leaves can be found. In autumn, the barberry is covered with bright red berries.
Conclusion
Varieties, photos and descriptions of the Thunberg barberry must be studied first, and then proceed with the selection of the appropriate species. The barberry has a large number of species and varieties, each of which has its own characteristics. Since the shrub is unpretentious, this allows it to be popular with gardeners. There are some species that can grow in places with temperatures down to -40 ° C. Plants are used for decorative purposes for gardens, hedges and landscaping of land.
