The beautiful tree with high ornamental value is very popular as a hedge. Here you can find out what you should consider when planting and caring for the barberry.

Barberries are robust and easy to care for

Barberries, which are also called sour thorn because of their sour berries and belong to the barberry family (Berberidaceae), adorn their surroundings with colorful fruits and yellow flowers, with which they various Attract insects, birds and small mammals. In addition, the thorny shrubs are robust and easy to care for, which makes them the perfect shrub for your hedge, hedge or element in a natural garden. In this article you will find out how best to proceed when planting and what is important when it comes to care.

With 400 to 600 species, barberries are an extremely species-rich genus. So there is not one barberry, but many different ones, almost all of which are located outside of Europe. Fewer than a handful of species occur in Europe, most are distributed in the Himalayas and temperate East Asia.

Barberry: origin and properties

Where exactly the barberry comes from is unclear, but it is now widespread on all continents with the exception of Australia. The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is native to our latitudes, although it is rarely found in the wild. The reason for this is that the common barberry is the intermediate host of a cereal fungus and was therefore almost eradicated on purpose in some places. Luckily, however, the stocks are slowly recovering, because the shrub has many useful properties. As early as the Middle Ages, barberries were used in many ways, for example the sour berries were used like vinegar and served as a lemon substitute for the poorer population. The root bark was also used to naturally dye wool, leather, or linen yellow, and was used as a remedy for jaundice and liver disease. But there were also all sorts of superstitions about the thorny bush; depending on the shape, the fruits should indicate either a short, hard winter or a long, mild winter.

Barberries are small to medium-sized shrubs, rarely also small trees, which vary greatly depending on the speciesdiffer in their appearance. The sour fruits, for example, vary from red to blue to dark purple and provide food for various species of birds. The hermaphrodite flowers, on the other hand, are yellow to red in all species. The fragrant flowers of the common barberry are particularly popular with bees and hoverflies. The sharp thorns of the barberry have one to five parts and the leaves are arranged alternately.

The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is native to us

Types and varieties of barberries

Finding the right plant for the garden is not that easy, because the different species sometimes have very different characteristics. They differ, for example, in growth height and shape, in the color of the berries or in whether they shed their leaves in autumn or decorate the garden all year round as an evergreen shrub.

If you want to experience your barberry in bright fall colors before it sheds its foliage over the winter, consider the following varieties:

  • Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow': growth height up to 150 cm, blood-red leaves shoot in spring, good winter hardiness and no special soil requirements
  • Berberis ottawensis 'Superba': very hardy, growth height 3 - 5 m, drought resistant, crimson leaves
  • Berberis thunbergii 'Bagatelle': dwarf form, growth height 40 - 50 cm, blood-red leaves, flat roots
The flowers of the Berberis ottawensis 'Superba' shine in a rich yellow

If you would rather have an evergreen variety in your garden, the following selection has proven itself:

  • Berberis candidula 'Jytte': Dense, compact growth; small yellow flowers in May and dark green narrow leaves
  • Berberis buxifolia 'Nana': Spherical shrub up to 50 cm tall, early flowering from April, berry color blue-black
  • Berberis frikartii 'Verrucandi': Easy to cut, small ornamental shrub; growth height up to 1.50 m; fruits black, small and oblong; roundish growing; well suited as an opaque hedge

Tip: If it is important to you to plant a species that is native to us, then the Berberis vulgaris, also called common barberry, should be used instead , in question. This original species is known for its striking red fruits and dark green leaves. The deciduous ornamental shrub reaches up to three meters in height and isrobust and uncomplicated. Its red fruits are particularly popular with birds such as hawfinches and blackbirds and can also be eaten by humans. This is special because the fruits of all other species are mildly poisonous and therefore cannot be eaten.

Buy barberries

You can traditionally buy barberries as young shrubs. You can find these in nurseries, tree nurseries, hardware stores, garden centers or in various online shops. If you would like a particularly large selection of varieties or if you have special quality requirements, the Internet can be a good source of supply. However, if you can buy your shrub locally, you have the opportunity to see the plant beforehand. Possible diseases such as powdery mildew or pests such as the larvae of the parasitic wasp can be ruled out right from the start and the vitality of the plant can be checked. If you want to learn more about possible sources of supply and tips for buying barberries, you will find all further information in our special article

The plant is usually bought as a young shrub

Plant barberries

No matter whether as a solitary plant or a hedge - the barberry is usually planted as a young shrub. The next sections will tell you how best to proceed and what needs to be taken into account.

The perfect location for barberries

As far as location is concerned, barberries are quite undemanding. They are even used to plant in extreme locations such as embankments or dry, calcareous soils. Barberries are also adaptable when it comes to pH, as many varieties thrive in both acidic and alkaline soils. However, they prefer to stand on a permeable, humus-rich and moderately moist substrate. Deciduous species also like it sunnier than their evergreen relatives, who prefer to be in shady and partially shaded locations.

How to plant barberries

Once you have received your barberry, you can in principle plant it out all year round. However, if there is frost, you will not be able to dig through the ground with your shovel, nor will the plant be able to spread its roots, so you should choose a frost-free period. There is also a difference between bale and container goods. Container ware can be planted all year round, while root ball ware can only be planted in spring or autumn. But also whether you choose a deciduous or an evergreen barberrydecided has an impact on when to plant. Because although it is traditionally planted in autumn, it is advisable to plant an evergreen barberry in spring, as the plant is busy rooting into winter. The distance at which the plant is planted depends on the species and variety. As a rule of thumb, it should be at least half to a third of its final growth height as the distance to the next plant. Once you have determined the correct distance, the planting holes can be dug. These should be at least so deep that the upper edge of the root ball is flush with the soil surface. They should also be 1.5 times the width of the root diameter.

If you're planting a hedge, it's also a good idea to stretch a string before you dig it out - this will make the hedge straighter later. If you want to make your work even easier, it is also advisable to dig a trench instead of many individual planting holes. Before you can start planting, there are still a few steps to be taken: You can enrich the excavation of the holes or the ditch with compost or with a primarily organic fertilizer such as our Plantura universal fertilizer. With its three-month long-term effect, the Plantura universal fertilizer provides the plant with the most important nutrients without using animal ingredients such as horn meal or bones.

Planting holes must be dug before planting

If the root ball is very dry, it can be placed in a water bath before planting out. This is then planted with the enriched soil. Sludge the shrub well so that it is sufficiently supplied with water from the start. When planting in containers, be sure to rip off the roots before planting, as this can encourage branching in your shrub. In the case of baled goods, the bale cloth or wire baling should be opened.

Tip: If the location you have chosen tends to be dry, you can spread a layer of grass clippings, leaves or bark mulch around the ornamental shrub.

Planting barberries - briefly summarized:

  • Ideal time in autumn, for evergreen varieties in spring
  • Planting distance: half to a third of the final growth height
  • Planting hole: at least 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
  • Enrich the excavation with compost or primarily organic fertilizer such as Plantura Universal Fertilizer
  • Plant shrub with excavation and cover with mud
  • Containerware: Rooting out
  • Bale goods: open bale cloth or wire baling
  • Create a layer of mulch if the site is dry

Plant barberry as a hedge

Because of their sharp, long thorns, barberries are virtually burglar-proof and therefore particularly well suited as hedge plants. Very large species such as the large-leaved barberry (Berberis julianae) also protect you from all prying eyes. In addition to their function as hedges, they also provide shelter, nesting opportunities and food for birds, insects and small mammals. If you want to know more about barberries as a hedge, you can read everything else in our special article.

The sharp thorns create a kind of burglar-proof hedge

Care for barberries

Barberries are hardy and easy to care for and require little attention once established. That is why the care measures can be summarized in a few sentences.

Water and fertilize barberries

If the barberry is used to the location and well rooted in the soil, it can generally do well without additional fertilization. In the first few years or if you cultivate your barberry in a bucket, an additional dose of compost or primarily organic fertilizer such as our Plantura universal fertilizer with long-term effect will help.

The barberry only has to be watered in times of prolonged drought. However, if it has just been planted or if your barberry is in a bucket, it is advisable to regularly check with your fingers whether the substrate is still sufficiently moist.

Pruning barberries

In the first few years you usually don't have to think about pruning. Only when the ornamental shrub has reached its full size and begins to get out of shape, the secateurs are used. In principle, a pruning every one to two years is sufficient for the barberry. This should preferably be done immediately after flowering, as it is an early bloomer. When pruning, old, diseased and faded shoots are removed as close to the base as possible. It is important that a balance is created between old and new shoots. If your shrub begins to wilt or become overgrown, you can regenerate it with a vigorous pruning in the spring. If you have created your barberry in the form of a cut hedge, you will have to use hedge trimmers more often. The hedge is usually trimmed once or twice a year to keep it in the desired shape.

The barberry is best cut back immediately after flowering

Propagating barberries

The easiest way to propagate barberries is to use cuttings. For this purpose, around 10 to 15 centimeters long, slightly woody shoots are cut off with secateurs in summer. The cutting is then placed in a tall container with nutrient-poor potting soil, in which it can form its roots. However, the lower leaves are removed first, as this can prevent fungal infestation. You should also remove any flower buds that are present, as they prevent the formation of roots. For successful propagation via cuttings, also ensure that the substrate is always kept sufficiently moist.

Is barberry poisonous or edible?

Although the red fruits of the common barberry are he althy and tasty, all other parts of the barberry are considered mildly toxic. With the exception of the fruit, alkaloids are found throughout the barberry with the main alkaloid berberine. This can already lead to symptoms of poisoning from an intake of half a gram, which can show up in symptoms such as breathing difficulties, nosebleeds and drowsiness. The alkaloid content in the root bark of the barberry is particularly high.

Note: The edibility of the ripe fruit in this case only refers to the common barberry. All other species also have poisonous berries .

The sweet and sour fruits make a delicious jam

He althy barberry: medicinal properties and uses

Not only the birds look forward to the sour fruits in autumn, but also in the kitchen delicious jam, compote or juice can be conjured up from the berries of the common barberry. In oriental countries such as Iran, the berries are also often used to refine dishes. The sweet and sour-tasting fruits, which are full of vitamin C, are harvested when they are soft and dark red. However, the core is not eaten and must be removed. In addition to the fruit, other parts of the barberry, such as the root and root bark, are also used for therapeutic purposes. Various alkaloids are used as active ingredients in these parts of the plant, which, among other things, lower blood pressure or stimulate intestinal peristalsis and bile secretion. However, it is not advisable to make your own remedy from parts of the barberry, since the common barberry, with the exception of the berries, is considered to be slightly poisonousincorrect dosage can quickly lead to severe symptoms.

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