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Barberry Koronita is a spectacular accent of a sunny garden. The shrub will be the center of attention throughout the warm season, thanks to the exquisite decorativeness of its leaves. Even novice gardeners can handle planting and caring.
Description of barberry Thunberg Coronita (Coronita)
This squat, beautiful shrub grows in a range from 50 cm to 1.5 m. On average, the drooping, gracefully curved branches of the barberry Thunberg Coronita form a rounded spreading crown 1 m high, 1.2-1.4 m in diameter. The root system is shallow from the surface . The densely growing shoots are prickly, equipped with simple reddish spines, almost invisible against the background of the foliage, 0.5-2 cm long. Oval-ovate leaves with smooth edges are small, elongated to 2.5-3 cm, only 1 cm wide. Their original and decorative peculiarity - brownish-red shades of the leaf blade with a narrow green-yellow border. The border stands out brightly in spring and early summer.
Young shoots of Barberry Thunberg Coronita are bright red in color with the same leaves. Then the bark darkens to a brown tint. Reddish buds up to 5 mm in size.The shoots of young barberry grow vertically and become picturesquely curved with age. The small flowers of Barberry Thunberg Coronite bloom in May. They can be collected in small brushes or single. The corollas are light orange. They bloom for almost 2 weeks, sometimes until the first ten days of June. By October, the red oblong fruits ripen, adding bright colors to the burgundy autumn bush, and then remain into the winter. The berries are inedible.
Planted in the shade, this variety loses its original leaf color.
Barberry Koronita in garden design
Barberry of the Koronita variety attracts attention, like a bright spot among garden greenery. Designers use shrubs in various compositions and options:
- emphasis on a specific group of garden bushes;
- contrast for a group of coniferous plants;
- tapeworm among the lawn;
- rock garden component;
- a natural element of the landscape in an oriental style, since the plant is indigenous to the southern slopes of the mountains in China and Japan;
- the main component of a border or hedge.
The thorny bush will grow into an impenetrable barrier in 6-7 years. For this purpose, plants of the Coronita variety are placed close to each other. Another feature of barberry is its plasticity when shaping. Using skillful pruning, masters of topiary art create interesting compositions. A photo of barberry Thunberg Coronite shows how brightly the plant is a soloist in rock gardens, borders or rockeries.
Planting and caring for Koronita barberry
The shrub, unpretentious to the conditions, is grown without much hassle.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Barberry Koronita is quite unpretentious to soil types.It develops very well on loose sandy loams and loams, where the acidity index is 5-7.5 units. It is important that the area is drained. Barberry is not suitable for swampy areas or areas with stagnant water after melting snow or rain. It grows luxuriantly in fertile soil, but can thrive in dry and poor areas. The only non-negotiable requirement is placement in the sun. Light partial shade is allowed for a few hours, but the leaves will lose some of their red color.
According to the description, Thunberg Coronite barberry has superficial roots. It is recommended to purchase seedlings from specialized stores or nurseries grown in containers. During development, the bushes have already acclimatized and will more easily take root in a specific area that is located in the same area. Before planting, the container with the seedling is placed in a large container of water. The soil will be saturated with moisture, and the plant can be easily removed from the pot without damaging all the small roots.
Landing rules
When planting Coronita barberry in groups, retreat 1.6-2.2 m between the bushes. For hedges, the holes are placed densely, with an interval of 50-60 cm. The holes are dug 40-50 cm deep with the same diameter. A drainage layer is applied, then a substrate, where sand and humus are mixed in one part with two parts of turf soil.
Landing algorithm:
- the Coronita variety seedling is carefully removed from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots;
- placed on a mound of substrate in a hole so that the root collar is 4-5 cm under the soil;
- the roots are sprinkled with substrate, compacting around the stem;
- water and mulch;
- cut the shoots to 3 buds protruding outwards.
Throughout the month, young Coronita barberry is watered every 7-10 days.
Watering and fertilizing
Care, as well as planting of Thunberg Coronite barberry, are simple. From the moment of moving, the tree trunk circle is kept clean, removing weeds and regularly loosening the soil. If it rains, do without watering. In hot summers, moisten the area with warm water 3-4 times a month. Fertilize in the spring with humus, compost or ready-made preparations for shrubs. In autumn, Coronita barberries are mulched with peat, humus, and compost.
Trimming
The neat, compact bush of barberry Thunberg Coronite practically does not need formative pruning, since it grows small. For decorative purposes, a specific selected silhouette of the bush is created. The optimal period for pruning is early spring, when sap flow has not yet begun. Hedges are formed not only in spring, but also in summer, in June and August, so that the wall of the plant is neat. Old bushes are heavily pruned, removing all shoots. New branches grow quickly by early summer. Sanitary pruning to remove frozen tops is carried out in mid-spring, when the buds have opened and the affected areas on the branches are visible.
Preparing for winter
Barberry Thunberg Koronita is winter-hardy, can withstand temperatures of 28-30 °C. Sometimes, even at such temperatures, if the bush is exposed to a north wind, the tops of annual shoots are damaged. They are pruned in the spring, the bush recovers well due to the dormant buds at the bottom of the plant. In autumn, Koronite barberry bushes are mulched or covered with ordinary soil to a height of 10-12 cm from the root collar. In spring the soil is removed.In winter, snow is thrown onto the plant for insulation.
Reproduction
There are enough ways to increase the number of Koronita barberry bushes on your site. The plant reproduces:
- dividing the bush;
- layering;
- shoots;
- cuttings;
- seeds.
New shoots grow from the root system of the barberry Thunberg Coronite every year. In early spring, as soon as the soil thaws, or in September, the mother bush is dug up. Using a sharp shovel, divide the plant with a sharp movement so that the divisions have enough roots and 4-7 shoots. Parts of the bush are quickly planted so that the roots do not dry out.
For layering of barberry Koronite in spring:
- dig in the lower branches, leaving the tops above the ground;
- shoots are secured with garden staples;
- water regularly;
- after 16-25 days the first shoots appear, the soil around them is slightly loosened and watered once a week;
- transplanted to a new location in autumn or spring.
The shoots are separated from the mother roots and immediately replanted if their root system is sufficiently branched.
2 types of shoots of barberry Thunberg Coronite are cut:
- those that are already half lignified - the branches are cut into fragments 15 cm long;
- green shoots, which are cut from below at an angle of 45 °.
The cuttings are treated with root formation stimulants Heteroauxin, Kornevin, Zircon and planted in a substrate of sand on top and non-acidic peat below. Cover with a plastic dome and maintain high humidity. The cuttings take root in a month and are planted in the ground in autumn or spring.
Seeds of barberry Thunberg Coronite germinate poorly, only 16-45%. They are stratified for 3 months in the refrigerator, sown in a container, or sown directly into the soil in the fall. Young seedlings are moved after 2-3 years.
Diseases and pests
Barberry Thunberg Coronita is a fairly resistant plant to diseases and pests. But in a situation of mass spread of pathogens of fungal infections such as powdery mildew, drying out of shoots, rust, leaf spot, the bush will also suffer. Powdery mildew, a whitish coating on the leaves, is eliminated by using colloidal sulfur. Bright orange spots indicate a rust infection. The infection is combated by treatment with Bordeaux mixture.
After brown or yellowish spots appear on the leaves of the Koronite barberry, which lead to their shedding, it is advisable to spray the plant with copper-based preparations.
Barberry plants suffer from invasions of aphids, sawflies and flower moths. Having noticed pests that feed on leaves, use Fitoverm or other insecticides against them. Aphid colonies can be combated using a solution of laundry soap or tobacco decoction.
Conclusion
Barberry Coronita is easy to grow and caring for the bush is not labor-intensive. This light-loving and drought-resistant plant will create an attractive bright accent in the garden and will favorably emphasize the picturesque compositions.
