Berberis thunbergii Yellow Tower

The Berberis thunbergii 'Yellow Tower' is a vigorous variety of barberry with an expanded columnar habit towards the top, and it is of medium size. Its foliage is yellow, sometimes almost white, and it does not burn in the sun. Its discreet yellow spring flowering is followed by the formation of berries that turn bright red in autumn, against the orangish foliage. This deciduous shrub, very hardy and accommodating, has its place in a small low hedge or in a shrub bed, especially among red foliage. Water-efficient, it withstands wind and urban environments.

The Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese Barberry or Thunberg's Barberry, is a shrub from the Berberidaceae family, native to Japan. It is characterised by a spreading, low, bushy habit and deciduous foliage in winter or almost evergreen in mild climates. It is a robust and undemanding plant that tolerates limestone soils.

The Polish cultivar 'Yellow Tower', obtained by Janusz Szewczyk in 2016, on the contrary, has a narrow, very dense, slightly rigid and spreading habit, supported by vertical branches. It reaches about 1.50m in height with a spread of 70cm at maturity. The young branches are reddish-orange and have mildly aggressive thorns. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of glossy leaves, measuring 3cm long, ovate to rounded in shape. The colour is a vibrant yellow, with a very pale, almost white shade. In April-May, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on one-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers, 1cm long, are a soft yellow slightly streaked with red. They are highly nectariferous and are followed in September-October by small spherical bright red fruits, 6 to 8mm long, which persist on the branches throughout part of the winter. The foliage takes on a beautiful orangish hue before falling.

Thunberg's Barberry 'Yellow Tower' is a very adaptable shrub in terms of soil and tolerates pruning very well. Its beautiful yellow foliage blends admirably with all shades of purple, red, orange, and even blue. For example, you can pair it with Physocarpus Little Devil, Kerria japonica, Cytisus Lena Orange, Ceanothus thyrsifolius repens... It can also be paired with the grey foliage of the shrubby wormwood 'Powis Castle'.