Berberis thunbergii Natasza - Barberry

Berberis thunbergii 'Natasza' is one of the most colourful and variegated Japanese barberry varieties on the horticultural market! Its young shoots are a vibrant crimson red and adorned with small oval leaves splashed with bright pink and cream that later turn pure white and green and then yellow-orange in autumn, illuminating the garden from spring to autumn. Its spread and compact habit make it a perfect ground cover to enhance small gardens, even in containers on a terrace. Its insignificant cream-yellow flowering occurs from May to June and is followed by bright red berries that remain decorative long after the foliage has fallen. This variety is very hardy and also has the advantage of being particularly resistant to powdery mildew and scorching sun. Plant this bush in a sunny location to achieve more intense foliage colouration, and in well-drained soils, even dry or clayey ones.

Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese barberry, is a bush from the berberidaceae family native to Japan. It is characterized by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and deciduous foliage, semi-evergreen in mild climates.

Average in growth, the 'Natasza' cultivar is a Polish creation from Szkółki Kurowscy that reaches 1.25m (4ft) in all directions. The small and numerous branches of this variety bear thorns that are difficult to remove, making it an interesting choice for creating small defensive hedges. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of small, obovate (ovate, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part), and glossy leaves. At bud break, they are heavily speckled with bright pink and cream, later turning pure white and green. In May-June, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers are 1cm (0.4in) long and cream-yellow. They are highly nectar-rich and are followed in September-October by small spherical fruits, 6 to 8mm (0.2 - 0.3in) long, that persist on the branches part of the winter. The foliage takes on a beautiful yellow-orange colour before falling.

Japanese barberry is a very adaptable bush in terms of soil, tolerating pruning very well, but preferring sunny exposures. It is a shame to confine it to the role of a trimmed defensive hedge where its naturally graceful habit is completely obscured. Its beautiful foliage, remarkable in certain cultivars like 'Natasza', deserves a prominent place in front of larger and darker shrubs, with pink flowers (Kolkwitzia, Abelia, Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum), red flowers (Japanese quince, roses, Weigela), or even yellow to orange flowers (Japanese rose, Genista Lena Orange, Honeysuckle Dropmore Scarlett). It can also be paired with the grey foliage of shrubby Artemisias or Convolvulus cneorum. This bush can also be planted in large rockeries, to cover slopes or highlight the edge of a pathway. It will thrive when grown in a large container to adorn the terrace or balcony, surrounded by trailing plants and less colourful shrubs.