Berberis thunbergii Toscana - Barberry
Berberis thunbergii Toscana - Barberry
Berberis thunbergii Toscana™
Japanese Barberry
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Description
Berberis thunbergii 'Toscana' is a special compact variety of Japanese Barberry that delights with its intense and varied foliage colouration! From spring large, oval and shiny deciduous leaves, unfurl in scarlet red with a bright yellow edge. Then, they turn completely red before changing to purple in autumn. It forms a dwarf bush with dense, upright branches that slightly droop at their tips, making this cultivar ideal for enhancing a small hedge or in a container with other less extravagant species. It is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that tolerates pruning well and withstands summer drought. Simply provide it with a sunny location in well-drained soil for more intense colouration.
Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese Barberry, is a shrub of the Berberidaceae family native to Japan. It is characterized by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and deciduous foliage which is nearly evergreen in mild climates.
The 'Toscana' cultivar will quickly reach a height of 1.20m (4 ft) with a spread of 90cm (35.4in). The purplish branches, half-arching and half-upright in this variety, bear thorns that are difficult to remove. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of larger leaves than those of other varieties, obovate (oval, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part) and shiny. At bud burst, they are a finely yellow-edged scarlet-red, then as they mature, they turn to intense red. In April-May, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers are 1cm (0.4in) long and golden orange streaked with red. They are nectar-rich and followed in September-October by small bright red spherical fruits, 6 to 8mm (0.2 - 0.3in) long, which persist on the branches for part of the winter. The foliage takes on a beautiful purple hue before falling.
The Japanese Barberry is a very accommodating shrub in terms of soil which tolerates pruning very well and prefers sunny exposures. It is a shame to confine it to the role of a monochrome and anonymous defensive hedge where its naturally graceful habit is completely obscured. Its beautiful foliage, remarkable in some cultivars like 'Toscana', deserves a prime location in front of larger shrubs with pink flowers (Kolkwitzia, Abelia, Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum), red flowers (Japanese Quince, roses, Weigelas), 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 Wormwoods or Convolvulus cneorum. This shrub can also be planted in large rockeries to cover slopes or highlight the edge of a path. It will thrive in a large container, to adorn a terrace or balcony, where it can be planted in the middle surrounded by trailing plants and less showy shrubs.
Berberis thunbergii Toscana - Barberry in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Berberis
thunbergii
Toscana™
Berberidaceae
Japanese Barberry
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Berberis thunbergii 'Toscana' thrives in full sun or partial shade, with autumn colours being more intense in the sun. It is a plant that tolerates drought and harsh winters. Plant it in any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. The planting hole should be twice the size of the root ball. Space the Berberis about 80cm (31.5in) apart, add compost, and water well. It is a bush that tolerates pruning very well. From June to August, after flowering, prune the faded branches to the level of the young lateral shoots to encourage the arrival of new branches. Be careful not to touch the branches with bare hands as they have thorns that are difficult to remove once they penetrate the skin. The Thunberg's Barberry can be susceptible to powdery mildew and black leaf spots. Aphids can also invade it.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
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