When choosing barberries for your garden, you have many options. Therefore, it is worth knowing the differences between individual species and their characteristics in order to be able to choose the perfect plant that will fit the style of our property. We advise you which barberries are worth considering and how to care for them so that they look great.
Barberry offers many possibilities because we can choose from numerous species. Thanks to this, we will choose the perfect specimen for our garden that will meet our expectations. Here are the barberry species you may want to consider
- Berberys Thunberga – it is extremely popular. This is not surprising, because it is very versatile and has many varieties. It is characterized by green leaves that turn orange-red in autumn. The specimen grows up to 2 meters and is usually used to create a hedge.
- Korean barberry – it is distinguished by large leaves that are about 7 centimeters long. In addition, it grows to a height of 2 meters, so it looks really impressive. In autumn it becomes intensely red, and its fruits can last throughout the winter. Perfect for naturalistic gardens.
- Berberys Juliany – it is an evergreen species. The leaves of this plant remain on the bush all year round. In autumn they turn orange. This plant can grow up to 1.5 m, making it a charming decoration for any garden.
- Berberys ottawski – the leaves of this plant are burgundy. Beautiful yellow flowers appear on it in May and June. In turn, in autumn, intensely red fruits grow on the Ottawa barberry. This specimen is often used to create an impressive and delightful hedge. It is perfect for this role because it grows up to 3-4 meters high.
Due to the fact that barberry grows best when it is in its vegetative rest period, i.e from September to the end of November or from March to the end of April, it is worth taking advantage of the opportunity now to start growing this unique plant.
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The advantage of barberries is that they do not have excessive requirements. However, they need an appropriate position for proper development. Most species grow best in full sun. It is true that the plants will also cope in partial shade, but there the colors of their leaves will be less intense.
When it comes to soil, barberry plants need quite average soil. The most important thing is that it is not heavy and constantly wet. However, in spring it is worth applying a small dose of fertilizer for ornamental shrubs to stimulate the plants to grow. Another important piece of information is that barberries require watering mainly in the first weeks after planting, and later they tolerate even longer periods of drought well.
Let’s not forget about formative pruning in early spring, and in hedges also in summer. Let’s not ignore old and diseased shoots, because cutting them out systematically helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
