Berberis stenophylla Corallina Compacta - Barberry

<strong> <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis or Barberry</a> </strong> are striking spiny shrubs, with an upright or strongly spreading bushy habit, reminiscent of Mahonia in some aspects. <strong>These bushy shrubs, rich in 400 species, exhibit a wide variety of appearances but always have small to medium leaves, often with spiny edges</strong>. However, <strong>it is the fine thorns located in the axil of each leaf that form formidable tridents</strong>, highly sought after for creating <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/hedge-shrubs/deterrent-hedges.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defensive hedges</strong></a>. Barberries can be classified into two groups: <ul> <li>The group of <strong>deciduous species</strong> whose leaves are often ovate with smooth edges, in shades of purple, pink, tricolour, etc., such as Berberis x ottawensis and Berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea. Their autumn foliage often takes on magnificent scarlet colours, while the lemon-yellow flowering in May-June remains quite discreet.</li> <li>The group of <strong>evergreen species</strong> presents various leaf shapes, linear like Berberis linearifolia, spatulate like buxifolia, or small holly-like leaves such as darwinii or verruculosa. The flowering in dense bouquets of <strong>orange-yellow and fragrant</strong> blooms is often <strong>remarkable and early</strong>, as seen in darwinii, which flowers in March-April.</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_52032" align="alignnone" width="1172"]<a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Berberis-feuillages.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-52032" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Berberis-feuillages.jpg" alt="Barberry, berberis" width="1172" height="233" /></a> Some Barberries with decorative foliage: <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-admiration-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Admiration'</a>, <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/arbustes/arbustes-par-variete/berberis/berberis-buxifolia-nana-epine-vinette-a-feuilles-de-buis-p-6104.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis buxifolia 'Nana'</a>, <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-atropurpurea-nana-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana'</a>, <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-rosy-glow-barberry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Rosy Glow'</a>, <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/berberis-barberries/berberis-thunbergii-thunderbolt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berberis thunbergii 'Thunderbolt'</a>[/caption] <strong>All these shrubs are very easy to grow in any type of soil, preferably in full sun.</strong> <strong>They integrate</strong> perfectly <strong>into a low, medium to high hedge, whether free or trimmed.</strong> Compact rounded varieties like thunbergii ‘Bagatelle’ or darwinii ‘Nana’, dense upright forms like ‘Golden Torch’, or groundcover types like thunbergii Green Carpet make <strong>excellent rock garden subjects</strong> that can also be showcased <strong>as standalone plants</strong> or on a <strong>terrace or balcony</strong>. The thorns vary in length and sharpness depending on the cultivars, so it is wise to check their prickliness before placing Berberis in a high-traffic area. Avoid positioning it at eye level for children, in particular. Among the less spiny varieties, one can find Berberis x frikartii, buxifolia ‘Nana’, x hybrido-gagnepainii, thunbergii ‘Coronita’ (which has no thorns at all), and ‘Green Carpet’.