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Deciduous shrub Barberry Thunberga "Atropurpurea" of the Barberry family, native to Asia (Japan, China). Grows on rocky areas and mountain slopes. Taken as a basis for the hybridization of more than 100 species of cultivated varieties used in landscape design.
Description of barberry Atropurpurea
For the design of the site, a dwarf variety of shrub is used - barberry “Atropurpurea” Nana (shown in the photo). A perennial crop can grow on a site for up to 50 years. The ornamental plant reaches a maximum height of 1.2 meters, crown diameter is 1.5 m. The slow-growing species of Thunberg "Atropurpurea" blooms in May for about 25 days. Barberry fruits are not eaten; due to the high concentration of alkaloids, their taste is sour and bitter. The culture is frost-resistant, tolerates temperatures down to -200 C, drought-resistant, feels comfortable in open, sunny areas. Shaded areas slow down photosynthesis and green fragments appear on the leaves.
Description of barberry "Atropurpurea" Nana:
- The spreading crown consists of densely growing branches.Young shoots of Thunberg "Atropurpurea" are dark yellow in color, becoming dark red as they grow. The main branches are colored purple with a slight admixture of brown.
- Red leaves give the barberry “Atropurpurea” Thunberg a decorative appearance; by autumn the shade changes to carmine brown with a purple tint. The leaves are small (2.5 cm), oblong in shape, narrow at the base, rounded at the top. They do not fall off for a long time and stay on the bush after the first frost.
- Blooms profusely, inflorescences or single flowers are located throughout the branch. They are characterized by double coloring, burgundy on the outside and yellow on the inside.
- The fruits of "Atropurpurea" Thunberg are dark red in color, have an ellipsoidal shape, and reach a length of 8 mm. They appear in large numbers and remain on the bush after leaf fall, in the southern regions until spring, and go to feed birds.
At the age of 5 years, barberry stops growing, begins to bloom and bear fruit.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana in landscape design
This type of culture is widely used in the design of sites by professional designers. Barberry Thunberg "Atropurpurea" is available for purchase, so it is often found in the personal backyard of amateur gardeners. Barberry Thunberg Atropurpurea Nana (berberis thunbergii) is used as:
- A hedge to delimit zones on the site, the back of the ridges, along the path to imitate an alley.
- A single plant near a pond.
- An object that concentrates attention in a rock garden, in order to emphasize the composition of the stones.
- The main background is near the wall of the building, bench, gazebo.
- Designations of the boundaries of the alpine hill.
In city parks, Thunberg's species "Atropurpurea" is included in a composition with coniferous plants (Japanese pine, cypress, thuja) as the lower tier. Bushes are planted in front of the facades of public and private institutions.
Planting and caring for barberry Thunberga Atropurpurea Nana
Thunberg barberry tolerates low temperatures well; returning spring frosts do not affect the flowering and decorative appearance of the shrub. This quality makes it possible to grow Thunberg barberry in temperate climates. The shrub tolerates excess ultraviolet radiation and dry weather well and has proven itself well in southern latitudes. Planting and caring for the Thunberg barberry “Atropurpurea” is carried out within the framework of conventional agricultural technology; the plant is unpretentious.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Barberry Thunberg "Atropurpurea" is planted on the site in the spring after the soil has warmed up or in the fall, a month before the onset of frost, so that the shrub has time to take root. The area is determined with good lighting; in the shade, barberry will not slow down its growth, but will partially lose the decorative color of the leaves.
The root system of the shrub is superficial, not very deep, and therefore does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. The seat is chosen on a flat surface or hill. In lowlands with close groundwater, the plant will die. The best option is the east or south side behind the wall of the building. Exposure to north wind is undesirable. The soils chosen are neutral, fertile, drained, preferably loamy or sandy loam.
For spring planting, the site is prepared in the fall. Dolomite flour is added to acidic soils; by spring the composition will be neutral.Chernozem soil is lightened by adding peat or a turf layer. One-year-old seedlings are suitable for spring planting, two-year-old seedlings are suitable for autumn propagation. Planting material for Thunberg barberry is selected with a developed root system; dry and damaged fragments are removed before placement. The seedling should consist of 4 or more shoots with smooth red bark with a yellow tint. Before planting, the root system is disinfected with a fungicide and placed in a solution that stimulates root growth for 2 hours.
Planting barberry Thunberga Atropurpurea
Thunberg barberry is propagated in two ways: by planting in a trench if you plan to form a hedge, or in a single hole to create a composition. The depth of the hole is 40 cm, the width from the root to the wall of the hole is not less than 15 cm. Pre-prepare nutritious soil consisting of soil, humus, sand (in equal parts) with the addition of superphosphate at the rate of 100 g per 10 kg of mixture. Landing sequence:
- Make a depression and pour a layer (20 cm) of the mixture onto the bottom.
- The plant is placed vertically, the roots are evenly distributed.
- Cover with soil, leave the root collar 5 cm above the surface; if you plan to grow the bush by division, deepen the collar.
- Water and mulch the root circle with organic matter (spring), straw or dry leaves (autumn).
Watering and fertilizing
Barberry Thunberg "Atropurpurea" is drought-resistant and can go without watering for a long time. If the season has periodic rainfall, additional irrigation is not required. In hot, dry summers, water the plant with plenty of water (once every ten days) at the root.After planting, young barberries are watered every day in the evening.
In the first year of the growing season, Thunberg barberry is fed in the spring using organic matter. In subsequent years, fertilizing is carried out three times, in early spring - with nitrogen-containing products, by autumn potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, after the leaves have been shed, organic matter in liquid form at the root is recommended.
Trimming
One-year-old shrubs are thinned out in the spring, the stems are shortened, and sanitary cleaning is carried out. The shape of Thunberg's barberry "Atropurpurea" is maintained through all subsequent years of growth. Pruning is carried out in early June, dry and weak shoots are removed. Low-growing species do not require the formation of a bush; in the spring they are given an aesthetic appearance by removing dry fragments.
Preparing for winter
Thunberg's barberry "Atropurpurea", grown in the south, does not require covering the bush for the winter. Mulching with peat, straw or sunflower husks will be sufficient. In temperate climates, in order to prevent the roots and shoots from freezing, the plant is completely covered for up to five years. Spruce branches are used more often. Tall-growing Thunberg barberry requires more careful preparation for winter:
- shoots are tied together with rope;
- make a cone-shaped structure from a chain-link mesh 10 cm larger than the volume of the bush;
- the voids are filled with dry leaves;
- The top is covered with a special material that does not allow moisture to pass through.
If the Thunberg barberry is more than 5 years old, it is not covered; it is enough to mulch the root circle. Frozen areas of the root system are completely restored during the spring-autumn period.
Reproduction of barberry Thunberga Atropurpurea
Common barberry "Atropurpurea" can be grown on the site using the vegetative and generative methods. Propagation of the crop by seeds is rarely carried out due to the length of the process.In the fall, planting material is collected from the fruits, kept for 40 minutes in a manganese solution, and dried. Planted in a small bed. In the spring, the seeds will sprout; after two leaves appear, the shoots are pruned. Thunberg barberry grows in a preliminary bed for two years; in the third spring it is transferred to a permanent site.
Vegetative method:
- Cuttings. The material is cut at the end of June and placed in fertile soil under a transparent cap. They give it a year to take root and plant it in the spring.
- By layering. In early spring, the lower shoot of one year of vegetation is bent to the ground, fixed, covered with soil, and the crown is left on the surface. By autumn the plant will take root, it is left until spring and is well insulated. In the spring, seedlings are cut and placed on the territory.
- Dividing the bush. Autumn breeding method. The plant is at least 5 years old with a deep root collar. The mother bush is divided into several parts and planted throughout the territory.
Diseases and pests
Common insects that parasitize Thunberg barberry: aphids, moths, sawflies. Pests are eliminated by treating barberry with a solution of laundry soap or 3% chlorophos.
The main fungal and bacterial infections: bacteriosis, powdery mildew, leaf spot and wilting, rust. To eliminate the disease, the plant is treated with colloidal sulfur, Bordeaux mixture, and copper oxychloride. Affected barberry fragments are cut off and removed from the area. In the fall, loosen the soil around the crop and remove dry weeds, as fungal spores can overwinter in it.
Conclusion
Barberry Thunberg "Atropurpurea" is an ornamental plant with a bright red crown. It is used to design plots, park areas, and the foreground of institutions. The frost-resistant deciduous shrub is grown throughout the Russian Federation, except in the risky farming zone.
