Barberry of Thunberg Atropurpurea Nana (berberis Thunbergii) is a member of the Barberry family. In gardens, it is found infrequently, but it has a certain popularity. The plant has a decorative appearance, grows quite high, and its life span is approximately 65 years. Therefore, the bush 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 sinuses of which real leaves grow. Crohn's sprawling. Throughout the season it has a purple color, which can only slightly change during the development period. The bark has a reddish tint.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana has a decorative appearance
Flowering occurs in early summer. Yellow flowers have a wonderful smell. On the plant, they are collected in brushes. The culture is an excellent honey plant, so you can always see bees around.
Bushes of this type of barberry are perfectly adapted to any conditions - they easily tolerate both heat and frost, though not very serious. Able to grow up to 4 meters in height. There is also a dwarf variety, which in adulthood reaches 60 cm with a diameter of 1 m.
Planting a plant
Atropurpurea Nana barberry can be grown from seeds or from seedlings. Both methods have their own characteristics.
Seed planting
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 moist soil is poured into the container, planting material is sown to a depth of not more than 1.5 cm. The container is covered with film or glass. After the appearance of sprouts, the shelter is removed, they monitor the moisture of the soil. When the seedlings grow a little, it can be transplanted into separate cups, in which it will develop before being transferred to the ground.
The leaves of this species are particularly decorative and retain their color during the season.
Planting seedlings in open ground
In open ground seedlings are planted in early May. It is recommended to make sure that the soil has already warmed up well 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 levels of groundwater. It is also worth considering that an adult plant has a rather sprawling crown, so it needs enough space.
Note! It is important to equip the plant with good drainage so that the soil passes moisture and air well.
How to care for Atropurpurea Nana barberry
Thunberg Barberry Atropurpurea Nana is an unpretentious shrub, like all barberries. There are a number of specific conditions for care, which should be adhered to so that the plant grows and develops.
Watering
In the first year after planting, the plant is irrigated up to 2 times in 7 days. After a year, the amount of irrigation can be reduced to 1 time in 7-10 days. Adult bushes will have enough moisture a couple of times a month. Nana does not like wetlands, so during the rainy season it is generally recommended to stop irrigation.
Top dressing
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 is repeated once every couple of years.
Before the barberry Atropurpurei begins to bloom, you can feed it with a mullein solution. Re-application is carried out after a week and a half.
Before the winter period, mineral fertilizers are chosen. For the bush, 15 g of superphosphate, applied in a dry form, is enough.
Pruning
Decorative pruning is done to form the crown. It is best to carry it out in the spring, removing dried, frozen and damaged branches.
In late autumn, when all processes slow down, pruning can also be done, preparing the plant for wintering.
Younger plants require more careful care than adults
Breeding methods
Barberry Nana Purpurea is propagated in several ways:
- The seeds. It is used quite often, it allows you to get small seedlings by spring.
- Layering. One shoot bend to the ground, fall asleep, leaving the crown on the surface. By the autumn period, the plant will have roots. Seats can be laid 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 carry out a transplant.
- By dividing the bush. For this purpose, use a plant at least five years old. The rhizome is separated with a sharp knife, new bushes are transplanted to a permanent place.
Worth considering! Adult bushes with a height of more than 2 meters to reproduce by division is almost impossible.
Transfer
Only young bushes can be transplanted because of their small size and dwarf varieties. Large trees do not transplant.
Diseases and Pests
The barberry boxwood Nana is rarely affected by diseases. The most common diseases are rust and powdery mildew. Characteristic brown or gray spots appear on the plant. You can cope with such problems with the help of fungicidal drugs.
Danger for plants are aphids and moths. You can get rid of them with the help of special drugs. In autumn, it is important to carefully examine the leaves and remove those that are covered with cobwebs.
Flowering period
The flowering period of the culture falls on the second half of May (early June). Flowers have a yellow color on the inside and red on the outside, collected in small brushes. Inflorescences retain a decorative appearance for 10 days.
Designers like to use this look for decorating summer cottages.
Winter preparations
Barberry normally tolerates winter frosts. In the first years, it is desirable to cover the bushes with spruce branches or branches. The root zone can be mulched with sawdust, foliage. This will help the roots more easily winter.
Worth to know! Cropping of the crown is carried out as desired. Branches are cut so that they do not freeze in the winter.
Use in landscape design.
Barberry Atropurpurea Nana is often used in landscape designers. The plant is loved for its decorative appearance, longevity and unpretentiousness. It looks great as a living fence, as well as in the alpine slides. The dwarf variety is great for zoning plots and as borders.
Beneficial features
Bushes of barberry 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, so they are often used as hedges.
