Berberis thunbergii Silver Pillar

The Berberis thunbergii 'Silver Pillar' is a variety of barberry with an upright and compact habit, particularly ornamental with its deciduous foliage that changes colours during the growing season. The young leaves emerge in shades of yellow before turning to a green speckled with cream-white. Its discreet yellow spring flowering is followed by the formation of red berries, which coexist with the autumn foliage that turns reddish-orange and persists until winter. Easy to grow, very cold-resistant, and accepting most well-drained soils, this shrub is suitable for low hedges, integrates well into diverse flower beds, and can be planted in containers.

Berberis is one of the 14 genera in the Berberidaceae family, including Nandina, sacred bamboo, Epimedium, graphic flowers, and the rarer Podophyllum, with astonishing leaves. There are 450 to 500 species of Berberis, a highly diversified genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs with green or coloured foliage and with either undeveloped or formidable, and sometimes even ornamental, thorns. Recognisable by its yellow wood, Berberis gets its name from the Arabic word "berberys," which means its fruit.
The Berberis thunbergii, also known as Thunberg's barberry or Japanese barberry, originates from Japan and was introduced to Europe as early as 1864. The species is characterised by a compact and regular habit, reaching a height of 1.50 m. It is best known for its numerous cultivars with purple, golden, pink, and white leaves, among others. It has also produced hybrids, such as B. x ottawensis, through cross-breeding with Berberis vulgaris, which is also appreciated for its various cultivars.
'Silver Pillar' is an upright form that is beautiful due to its changing foliage. With moderate growth, the shrub reaches a height of 1.50 m and a width of 80 cm within ten years, and at maturity, after 20 years in the ground, it can get a height of 2 m with a spread of 1.20 m. Its columnar silhouette is attractive throughout the year, especially in spring when young shoots emerge towards the sky in shades of yellow. The small obovate to spatulate leaves, approximately 3 cm long, then turn green with cream-white spots. This mature foliage retains these mixed colours during the growing season, ending beautifully in autumn when it turns reddish-orange before the leaves fall. In spring, around May, depending on the climate, the shrub produces small yellow flowers, only 6 to 8 mm in diameter and therefore relatively inconspicuous. Grouped in clusters of 2 to 4, they are appreciated by pollinators such as bees and butterflies. In autumn, they give rise to small elliptical berries, 8 to 12 mm long, bright red and very ornamental, which often persist until winter, providing food for passing birds.

As one of the easiest shrubs to grow, the 'Silver Pillar' Japanese barberry is a very adaptable plant in terms of soil, tolerating pruning well and preferring sunny but not scorching exposures (in the Mediterranean and Southwest, it is best planted under light shade). You can use it in a mixed hedge, where it only requires annual pruning with shears or even left in its natural shape. Plant the Photinia x fraseri 'Magical Volcano' alongside it to create a vivid contrast of foliage colours. This Photinia retains its young bright red leaves for a long time, which stand out against the dark green mature foliage. The Prunus laurocerasus 'Green Torch', an upright and slow-growing cherry laurel, will also be a good companion for a hedge. In a flower bed, you can associate your Berberis with purple foliage plants, such as the Physocarpus opulifolius 'Lady in Red', a small shrub that also offers a pleasant spring flowering with white corymbs that later turn into small red fruits. The Cotinus coggygria 'Dusky Maiden' with its oval purple leaves will also allow you to create a strong contrast with your Berberis.