Barberry Thunberg Atropurpurea Nana - variety description
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Barberry Thunberg Atropurpurea Nana (berberis Thunbergii) is a member of the Barberry family. It is rarely found in gardens, but it has a certain popularity. The plant has a decorative appearance, grows quite tall, and its life expectancy is approximately 65 years. Therefore, the shrub is interesting for landscape designers.
Description of barberry Atropurpurea Nana
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana is distinguished by the presence of thorns - these are modified leaves, from the axils of which real leaves grow. His crown is spreading. Throughout the season it has a purple color, which can only slightly change during development. The bark has a reddish tint.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana has a decorative appearance
Flowering occurs in early summer. Flowers of yellow color have a wonderful smell. On the plant, they are collected in tassels. The culture is an excellent honey plant, so bees can always be seen around.
Barberry bushes of this type are perfectly adapted to any conditions - they easily tolerate both heat and frost, though not too serious. They can grow up to 4 meters in height. There is also a dwarf variety that reaches 60 cm in adulthood with a diameter of 1 m.
Planting a plant
You can grow barberry Atropurpurea Nana from seeds or from seedlings. Both methods have their own characteristics.
Planting from seeds
The fruits of the tree are dried in sunlight for a couple of days, after which seeds can be extracted from them. Before planting, it is required to disinfect the seeds for 4-6 hours. Prepared wet soil is poured into the container, the planting material is sown to a depth of not more than 1.5 cm. The container is covered with film or glass. After the emergence of shoots, the shelter is removed, the moisture of the soil is monitored. When the seedlings grow a little, they can be transplanted into separate cups, in which they will develop before transferring to the ground.
The leaves of this species are particularly decorative and retain their color throughout the season.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Seedlings are planted in open ground in early May. It is recommended to make sure that the soil is already well warmed up so that young bushes do not die.
Barberry Nana prefers sunny areas. In the shade, it loses its decorative appearance and becomes pale. Soil moisture should be moderate. Bushes do not tolerate high groundwater levels. It should also be borne in mind that an adult plant has a rather spreading crown, so it will need enough space.
How to care for barberry Atropurpurea Nana
Barberry Thunberg Atropurpurea Nana is an unpretentious shrub, like all barberries. There are a number of specific care conditions that must be adhered to in order for the plant to grow and develop.
Watering
In the first year after planting, the plant is irrigated up to 2 times every 7 days. After a year, the amount of irrigation can be reduced to 1 time in 7-10 days. For adult bushes, it will be enough to apply moisture a couple of times a month. Nana does not like swampy soil, therefore it is generally recommended to stop irrigation during the rainy season.
Top dressing
For the first time, fertilizer is applied in the first year after planting. In spring, the bushes are fed with a urea solution (30 g per 10 l). In the future, the procedure will be repeated every couple of years.
Before the barberry Atropurpurey begins to bloom, you can feed it with a mullein solution. Re-introduction is carried out after a week and a half.
Before the beginning of the winter period, mineral fertilizers are chosen. For a bush, 15 g of superphosphate applied in dry form is enough.
Pruning
Decorative pruning is carried out to form the crown. It is best done in the spring by removing dried, frozen and damaged branches.
In late autumn, when all processes slow down, pruning can also be carried out, preparing the plant for wintering.
Young plants require more care than adults
Reproduction methods
Barberry Nana Purpurea is propagated in several ways:
- Seeds. It is used quite often, it allows you to get small seedlings by the spring.
- Layers. One shoot is bent to the ground, fall asleep, leaving the top of the head on the surface. By the autumn period, the plant will have roots. You can plant the layers next spring.
- Cuttings. At the end of June, cuttings are cut, placed in suitable soil, covered with a transparent cap. Branches take root throughout the year. In the spring, a transplant is carried out.
- By dividing the bush. For this purpose, a plant that is at least five years old is used. The rhizome is divided with a sharp knife, new bushes are transplanted to a permanent place.
Transfer
Only young bushes can be transplanted due to their small size and dwarf varieties. Large trees are not transplanted.
Diseases and pests
Boxwood barberry Nana is rarely affected by diseases. The most common diseases are rust and powdery mildew. Typical brown or gray spots appear on the plant. You can cope with such problems with the help of fungicidal preparations.
Aphids and moths are dangerous to the plant. You can get rid of them with the help of special preparations. In the fall, it is important to carefully examine the leaves and remove those covered with cobwebs.
Flowering period
The flowering period of the culture falls on the second half of May (early June). The flowers are yellow on the inside and red on the outside, collected in small brushes. The inflorescences retain their decorative appearance for 10 days.
Designers love to use this type to decorate summer cottages
Preparing for winter
Barberry tolerates winter frosts normally. In the first years, it is advisable to cover the bushes with spruce branches or branches. The root zone can be mulched with sawdust, foliage. This will help the roots overwinter more easily.
Use in landscape design.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana is often used by landscape designers. The plant is loved for its decorative appearance, longevity and unpretentiousness. Looks great as a living fence, as well as in alpine slides. The dwarf variety is great for zoning plots and as curbs.
Beneficial features
Barberry bushes Atropurpurea save from natural noise, do not require constant pruning. The berries of the bush are eaten, but it is recommended to observe the measure.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana is an ornamental plant that can grow quite tall. Dwarf varieties do not reach great heights, therefore they are often used as a hedge.
