Berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea Nana - Barberry

Berberis thunbergii f. Atropurpurea Nana is a delightful dwarf form of Japanese Barberry with purple foliage, just as spiky and easy to grow, but with a very compact habit that is well-suited for decorating small spaces, from the terrace to borders and low hedges, as well as perennial plant beds. Rounded, densely branched, evolving from light spring red speckled with small yellow flowers to bright red adorned with equally decorative berries of the same tone in autumn, it catches the eye throughout the season, without requiring much care!

Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese Barberry, is a shrub from the family Berberidaceae, originally from Japan as its name suggests. It is characterized by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and deciduous foliage, nearly evergreen in mild climates. The Atropurpurea form differs only in its foliage, with various shades of purple and red, while the Atropurpurea Nana cultivar distinguishes itself from the former by its very reduced growth.

It is a deciduous shrub with a bushy and rounded habit, a little wider than tall, reaching about 60cm (23.6in) in height and 75cm (29.5in) in spread. The slightly arching branches bear mildly aggressive thorns. The flowering is abundant in April-May, in the form of clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers covering the branches. The bell-shaped flowers are 1cm (0.4in) long and pale yellow tinged with red appearing on the previous year's shoots. They are nectar-bearing flowers, appreciated by pollinating insects and are followed by small, round and bright red, fruits in September-October which measure from 6 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3in) long and persist through part of the winter. The foliage of this Berberis is composed of leaves that emerge light red, turn red-purple in summer, and become bright red in autumn creating a beautiful contrast with the flowers. These leaves are 1 to 3cm (0.4 to 1.2in) long and obovate (ovate, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part). When the plant is insufficiently exposed to sunlight, the foliage takes on a dark green hue.

The Atropurpurea Nana Barberry is ideal for low hedges, whether informal or clipped. Its deterrent thorns also allow it to be used in the front row of a defensive hedge, combined with European Gorse (Ulex parviflorus), Japanese Quince, Holly, and Rugosa roses. It can also be planted in shrub beds, with dwarf forsythias and abelias (Abelia Kaleidoscope, Petite Garden), or even in a large container on the terrace where it will look good with larger shrubs (Bloomerang lilacs, Loropetalum, creeping Ceanothus, decorosier roses). This small Barberry also fits in rock gardens, on a slope, in a colourful checkerboard with boxwood, shrubby wormwoods, and Juniperus x media 'Old gold' in small touches.