Berberis thunbergii Kobold - Barberry
Berberis thunbergii Kobold - Barberry
Berberis thunbergii Kobold - Barberry
Berberis thunbergii Kobold
Japanese Barberry
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Description
Berberis thunbergii 'Kobold' is a dwarf variety of Japanese barberry appreciated for its naturally compact ball-shaped habit, requiring little pruning and particularly useful for creating dense ground cover or forming charming low borders. It is a deciduous shrub with many-branched, spiny stems and very decorative, small, glossy leaves that are brightly coloured in light green and then dark green in summer. In spring, it bears clusters of sweet yellow flowers striped with red, which are attractive to bees, and these flowers transform into small, bright red fruits in autumn. Before falling for winter, its small leaves temporarily turn yellow, sometimes tinged with red. It is not demanding and can be planted in full sun or partial shade in any well-drained soil.
The Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese barberry, is a shrub from the Berberidaceae family, native to Japan. It is characterized by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and its foliage is deciduous or almost evergreen in mild climates. The colouration of its foliage intensifies under full sun. Hardy and resistant to temporary drought, it is a very easy shrub to grow in any well-drained soil.
The cultivar 'Kobold' was introduced in the Netherlands in 1960. It has a medium growth rate and reaches a height of 50cm (19.7in) with a spread of 80cm (31.5in). The branches of this variety are well-divided, beige to light brown in colour with small thorns. The bright foliage and dense ball-shaped habit are the main assets of this barberry. The shiny leaves are a few centimetres long and obovate (with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part). When they emerge, they have a bright green colour, and as they mature, they become almost dark green. In May-June, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on one-year-old branches. The bell-shaped flowers are 1cm (0.4in) long and a sweet yellow colour with red markings. They are highly nectar-rich and are followed in September-October by small, spherical, bright red fruits measuring 6 to 8mm (0.2 - 0.3in), which persist on the branches throughout part of the winter. The foliage turns yellow, sometimes tinged with red, before falling.
Japanese barberry is a very adaptable shrub in terms of soil, tolerating pruning well, but it clearly prefers sunny exposures. It is a shame to confine it to the role of a monochrome and anonymous defensive hedge shrub where its naturally graceful habit is completely lost. The small, glossy foliage of 'Kobold' deserves a prominent place in front of taller shrubs with pink flowers (Kolkwitzia, Abelia, Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum), red flowers (Japanese quince, roses, Weigela), or even yellow to orange flowers (Japanese kerria, Genista Lena Orange, Dropmore Scarlett honeysuckle). Its compact ball-shaped habit allows it to be used for decorative ground covers, even on slopes, and low green borders. It can also be paired with the red and purple foliage of other dwarf varieties of Berberis.
Berberis thunbergii Kobold - Barberry in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Berberis
thunbergii
Kobold
Berberidaceae
Japanese Barberry
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Berberis thunbergii 'Kobold' 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 from each other, 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 promote the growth 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 Japanese Barberry can be susceptible to powdery mildew and black leaf spots. Aphids can also infest 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).
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 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.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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