Berberis chenaultii Parkjuweel - Barberry

The Berberis x media 'Parkjuweel' is a variety of bush-barberry with a rounded and compact habit that will remain decorative for a good part of the year, even in winter if it is not too harsh. Its semi-evergreen foliage is dark green and shiny in summer, turning partly bright red in autumn and winter. This small bush requires little maintenance and easily finds its place in the garden or in a pot on the terrace. It can be a good alternative to boxwood in sunny exposure and cool soil.

The Berberis 'Parkjuweel' is a hybrid variety, resulting from cross-breeding between Berberis thunbergii and Berberis chenaultii, both native to Japan. It is a small bush of the Berberidaceae family characterized by a bushy, dense, slightly spreading habit, and semi-evergreen foliage in winter. Its branches, covered with reddish-brown bark, bear single or trifurcate thorns, 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long.

It grows quite rapidly, reaching an average height of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) and a spread of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) at maturity. The slightly arching branches bear compound leaves, 2 to 4 cm (1.6 in) long, dark green and shiny on the upper side, bluish on the lower side, turning bright red in autumn. 'Parkjuweel' blooms in May-June. The flowers appear in clusters hanging among the foliage. The bell-shaped flowers, 1 cm (0.4 in) long, are pale yellow. They appear on the previous year's shoots. They are nectar-rich flowers, appreciated by pollinating insects. They are followed in September-October by small oblong purple-red fruits that can persist for part of the winter.

'Parkjuweel' bush-barberry is ideal for low hedges, whether informal or trimmed. It can also be used in shrub borders, with forsythias, buddleias, and dwarf abelias (Abelia 'Kaleidoscope', 'Petite Garden', Buddleja Naho Purple), or with pink or orange-flowered repeat-flowering roses to enhance their flowering. It can also be grown in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, allowing the gardener to try topiary. In the foreground of a defensive hedge, it can be associated, for example, with Japanese quince 'Cameo' and spiny gorse and broom.