Berberis thunbergii Bagatelle - Barberry

<strong> <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis or barberry</a> </strong> are striking thorny bushes, with an erect bushy or strongly spreading habit, which in some respects resemble Mahonia. <strong>These dense bushes, comprising some 400 species, have very varied forms but always bear small or medium leaves, often with thorny margins</strong>. But <strong>it is the fine thorns positioned in the axil of each leaf that form formidable tridents</strong>, much sought after notably for forming <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/hedge-shrubs/deterrent-hedges.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defensive hedges</strong></a>. Barberries can be classified into two groups : <ul> <li>The <strong>deciduous species</strong>, whose leaves are often ovate with smooth margins, in shades of purple, pink, tricoloured, etc., such as Berberis x ottawensis and Berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea. Their autumn foliage often turns magnificent scarlet while the lemon-yellow flowering in May–June remains fairly inconspicuous.</li> <li>The <strong>evergreen species</strong> display different leaf forms, linear as in Berberis linearifolia, spatulate as in buxifolia or with small holly-like leaves as in darwinii or verruculosa. Flowering in dense, fragrant orange-yellow clusters is often remarkable and early, as in darwinii, which flowers in March–April.</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_52032" align="alignnone" width="1172"]<a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Berberis-feuillages.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-52032" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Berberis-feuillages.jpg" alt="Barberry, Berberis" width="1172" height="233" /></a> Some barberries with decorative foliage: <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-admiration-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Admiration'</a>, <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/arbustes/arbustes-par-variete/berberis/berberis-buxifolia-nana-epine-vinette-a-feuilles-de-buis-p-6104.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis buxifolia 'Nana'</a>, <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-atropurpurea-nana-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana'</a>, <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-rosy-glow-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Rosy Glow'</a>, <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-thunderbolt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Thunderbolt'</a>[/caption] <strong>All these bushes are very easy to grow in any type of soil, preferably in full sun.</strong> <strong>They fit perfectly into a low, medium or tall hedge, either informal or clipped.</strong> Compact rounded varieties such as thunbergii ‘Bagatelle’ or darwinii ‘Nana’, dense erect forms like ‘Golden Torch’ or groundcover types such as thunbergii 'Green Carpet' make <strong>excellent rockery subjects</strong> and can also be showcased <strong>as specimens</strong> or on a <strong>terrace or balcony</strong>. Thorns vary in length and sharpness depending on cultivar, so it is advisable to check how hazardous they are to the touch before planting Berberis in an area with foot traffic. Avoid placing at children's eye level, in particular. Among the least thorny varieties are Berberis x frikartii, buxifolia ‘Nana’, x hybrido-gagnepainii, thunbergii ‘Coronita’ (completely thornless) and ‘Green Carpet’.