The barberry Bush: a description, planting and care

Beautiful ornamental shrub is a barberry will give your infield a magical and unique look in the spring when in bloom its yellow flowers with a delicate fragrance, to late autumn, when the brush of bright red fruit perfectly with the orange leaves. And if you add to this the high medicinal properties, the planting of shrub barberry - the problem is solved. Care for this plant is simple, and the hedge turns out just great.

Description of the plant

The original Name of this ornamental shrub comes from the Arabic beriberi, which means sink. The petals really resemble her. Different branching, thorns and the bark is light brown in color, the plant barberry. The size of the Bush can reach a height of 3.5 m. the Rhizome is woody, creeping. Shoots with faces straight, yellow in colour, later they will turn gray-white. For shorter shoots from the buds appear the leaves up to 4 cm, thin, elliptic or obovate. On longer shoots develop from three to five spines up to 2 cm

In the Spring, in late April and early may, the plant appear fragrant tassels of flowers are yellow. Their number can reach up to 25 pieces. By the end of September fruits bright red or purple fruits oblong-shaped Bush. Barberry has seeds up to 7 mm, narrowed and flattened in its upper part.

Distribution and ecology

Before barberry can be found only in Europe, Transcaucasia, and southwest Asia. He preferred the forest-steppe zone with sufficient lighting and dry soil. To meet him could be in the mountains, at altitudes up to 2 km. looks Like a Bush of barberry growing in the wild? The plant is quite unsightly. Today, due to the fact that receive a huge number of varieties, ornamental shrub barberry is not to be found except in the Arctic or Antarctica.

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Useful properties

Except the ripe berries, all other parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine. In the roots there are other alkaloids: oksiakantin, jatrorrhizine, containing, columbamine. In the bark of many tannins and aromatic resins in the leaves of vitamin K. ripe fruit contains carotenoids - lutein, flavoxanthin, xanthophyll, etc., sugar, malic acid, pectin.

Even in Ancient Russia on alcohol, insisted the roots, branches and bark, to stop the flow of blood from wounds and reduce inflammation. Barberry is a popular antibiotic given by the nature, which were treated with various colds. The infusion of the fruit strengthen the immune system, support the liver. And in Ancient Rome it was believed that barberry brings happiness and luck, so it is strongly guarded.

In the modern official medicine tincture on alcohol from the leaves is used in obstetrics to stop uterine bleeding and to inhibit inflammatory processes. Berberine cure the main problems of the liver and gallbladder. Water infusion of the fruit facilitate the attacks of malaria due to the strong diaphoretic properties. Rheumatism with its help soothe the pain.

Barberry

The Most widely used the berries in cooking: juices and fruit drinks, jams and jellies. And add the powder from the dried berries in the sauce, and your family for ears will not drag on the plates. In Central Asia pilaf is not prepared without barberry, and the peoples of the Caucasus add it to the horseradish.

Due to the sour taste of the barberries can replace the vinegar. And pickled immature fruits can replace capers. The infusion and decoction in veterinary medicine used as a hemostatic in case of different wounds in animals.

Barberry and pregnancy

Unfortunately, while interesting position should completely refrain from eating the berries, and a variety of liquors. Because contained in the plant alkaloids a possible miscarriage. Also in pregnant fruit can cause the formation of blood clots.

However, a small amount of the sauce to the meat content of barberry will not bring harm, so if you really want, you're welcome. Just do not forget that everything should be in moderation.

How and where to plant barberry

The Planting of barberry Bush starts with the selection of places. This plant prefers open areas, well lit by the sun. And for species that belong to Central Asian, to choose the place so you need to avoid drafts. Requirements to the soil shrub the barberry has the following: loam or well-dried soils, because the plant does not like waterlogged.

The Planting of the barberry Bush on the allotted for the growth of the place, in the spring, before they begin to blossom buds, but it is possible to drop and autumn, when the leaves are beginning to crumble. Before landing in the hole add a mixture of compost, soil and sand (in equal proportions). The depth should be 25-30 cm for 2-3 year-old seedlings and 40-50 for 5-7 year olds. If you are planning to do a hedge, plant the bushes you need in the trench. If in your area the soil is acidic, such as peat, then the bushes need to make wood ash 200 g lime or dolomite flour-300-400 g Of fertilizer you will need only 100 g of superphosphate.

How to care for barberry Bush

If you planted barberry bushes, caring for them is simple. If the landing site initially chosen is correct, and the groundwas provided good aeration, the roots are healthy and can breathe. Sometimes you just have to loosen the soil and remove the weeds.

In the Spring, at the beginning of the season or just after flowering, you need to trim the barberry. Mowing Bush is carried out annually. This action is aimed at forming a lush crown and remove weak and diseased shoots. And don't forget while caring about the sharp thorns of barberry. The next year after planting in the spring will feed the nitrogen fertilizer your barberry. The size of the Bush and lush flowering will be grateful for such care. Repeat the fertilizer needs every three years.

Basic reproduction of barberry

There are four main ways to propagate in the garden barberry: dividing the Bush, planting cuttings, softwood cuttings and seeds.

• Seed to sow the area in the fall. Press the freshly picked fruit, rinse under running water and dry. You need to place them no deeper than one centimeter. The soil should be loose, and the landing place is well warmed by the sun. By summer, the plant will delight you with a friendly shoots. But it is better to transplant a barberry Bush.
• The Plant is easily propagated from summer cuttings. Just place them the desired amount in the soil in June, and after a few years you will have enough material to fit.
• The division of the Bush - another method of reproduction. In this case, the Bush dig carefully not to damage the root system, and cut into several pieces. If the roots are thick, they just cut up and the parts received are seated in the new hole, liberally moisten them before planting.
• Cuttings made in spring from the young and healthy branches. Around the Bush digging grooves are stacked and selected branches. There they are fixed and prosypayutsya world to the outside there is only one tip. All season the cuttings well watered, and in the fall you will be ready for planting bushes.

Pests and diseases

While ornamental shrub barberry fairly resistant to fungal diseases and pests, but it is prone to them. Of fungal infections the most common is Anthracnose and powdery mildew. In the first case, the disease causes circular spots of brown color on the leaves in the second - white, as if sprinkled with flour, coating on the branches, leaves, and flowers. The incidence of fungi - the first sign of excessive water. For the treatment are fungicides, and conducted pruning of the affected parts that needed to be burned.

Barberry is a plant that is intermediate host of this pest of agriculture as the rust fungus, which infects cereals. That is why it is growing next to fields of rye and wheat is unacceptable. The only exception is the barberry Thunberg, which is not susceptible to rust. When the disease on the leaves visible stains orange with pads on the bottom side, in which Mature spores in large numbers. They are distributed on grasses, both wild and cultural, with the help of the wind.

Another disease caused by a fungus of the genus Fusarium. Infection occurs through the roots, which rot and fungus in the vessel rises through the branches, causing wilting Bush. If you cut the branch, you can see a ring of blood vessels brown color.

Insects are the most common pest is aphids barberry. Its presence can be seen on the wrinkled and shrunken and withered leaves. To get rid of aphids you can use a solution of soap (in a bucket of water 300 grams). Caterpillar flower moth eats the berries. In the case of their appearance, treat barberry "Trichlorfon" or "Decis".

Most common types of barberry

It is Very easy to take care of Berberis vulgaris, or common barberry, the height of which can reach two meters or more. The leaves are dark green and the flowers in brilliant yellow. The fruit is edible, juicy, with sour taste, painted in bright red color.

If your region severe frosts, then this is for you. It perfectly tolerates well and is experiencing a drought. It can be propagated by seeds, dividing the Bush cuttings. Need a hedge, so no one went? Berberis vulgaris will help in this. However, take care of your bushes from excess moisture, this species is highly susceptible to diseases caused by fungi.

The plant has many varieties:

• Atropurpurea - Bush barberry, a photo of which is presented below, with red leaves.
• Aureomarginata - plant, bordered with Golden line.
• Albomarmorata with variegated leaves.

During the reproduction of the original varieties, note that when planting a seed is only part of the plant will retain its varietal characteristics.

Berberis canadensis, or canadian barberry as the name implies, came from North America. Different from the European counterpart more accidentally. Resistant to frost and drought. Mainly used for landscaping in the American continent, so Russia is extremely rare.

Berberis thunbergii, or barberry Thunberg, native to China and Japan. It is a small shrub up to a meter, in diameter but can reach half a meter. Shoots are covered in small prickles very densely. Flowers reddish-yellowcolor collected 2-4 pieces into small florets. But the berries in the food because of its bitter taste, although birds eat them with great pleasure.

Unlike the European and American counterparts, barberry Thunberg Almost not sick of fungal diseases, including rust. To propagate it just like seeds and dividing the Bush, easily passes and cuttings. In this type more than 50 varieties, which differ from the original color of the leaves, their shape and size. If you encounter unusually colored barberry Bush, a photo of which you are interested in, most likely, this is Thunberg.

Berberis x ottawiensis, or Ottawa barberry, is a hybrid obtained by crossing of the red barberry and Thunberg. The main difference is dark purple leaves obovate. When autumn comes, they turn deep red. Beautiful tassels of yellow, with reddish flowers, which are collected at 8-10 pieces, bloom in late may. From their "parents" the plant has acquired the best of everything - the beauty of colors, simplicity and immunity to fungal diseases.

Berberis koreana, or Korean barberry, Bush height reaches two meters has large leaves obovate, leathery to the touch. In autumn they turn purple-red color. A plant native to the Korean Peninsula. Flowers collected in a long brush for 15-20 pieces, and the smell is very strong. Barberry is very low maintenance and resistant to frost. Only in the windy cold of winter, its top can freeze. But the thaw he doesn't like it, in this period, for it humidity is very high, and this plant is highly susceptible to rust.

Berberis integerrima, Or barberry smooth-edged, came to our land areas of Central Asia, where it grows at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level. The height of the shrub can reach two meters and a half. Spines small, half an inch long, and the leaves with a solid edge is painted in a greyish green tone. In inflorescence can be harvested up to 20 flowers in yellow and the fruits are dark maroon with a tinge of bluish color. Does not like acidic soil full Bush of barberry. Planting and caring for them is simple enough. Adult plants well survive even the most severe winter, but the young can be covered with ice, but can easily tolerate pruning and grow back quickly.

Berberis sphaerocarpa, or barberry chiropody (in another are called ragnarokum), came to us in the infield from the mountains of Central Asia. The shrub can reach 2.5 meters in height, very sprawling, with Palmetto on the edge leaves gray-green color. Collected on inflorescence of 5-10 flowers very fragrant. The fruit with a bluish bloom painted in dark blue.

The Population of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan routinely use the berries in cooking, add to sauce for barbecue and soup. Fruits are an excellent remedy against scurvy as it is rich in ascorbic acid.

This species is quite undemanding in care, tolerate even extreme heat and long drought. It tolerates winters, but young shoots may be affected, so it is better to conceal. But excessive humidity can lead to illness sharapodinov barberry, it is particularly susceptible to rust. Put him in a place not blown through by the winds, and the soil is dry and not acidic, and you will enjoy the delicious fruits and beautiful appearance. Propagated best by cuttings and seeds.

Berberis nummularia, or barberry monetary, came to us from the steppes of Central and Northern Asia. Highly branched shrub up to 2 meters. The branches are reddish in colour and covered with very large spines up to 3 cm Leaves are bluish-green, rather rigid, entire, oblong-elliptical in shape. The large flowers are bright yellow in racemes. The berries are oval-shaped in Mature a bright red color. Up to 3-4 years of age barberries susceptible to frostbite, after which a long time recovering. Not like heavily-moist soil, as it is very susceptible to fungal diseases. But drought, even severe and prolonged, is not afraid. Soil it needs light, not sour.

The Amur barberry hails from the Far East. In the wild it prefers to settle on the river shore and the forest edge. Externally, differs little from the ordinary Amur barberry, whose height can reach 3.5 m. the Large serrated leaves glossy green color in the autumn are either yellow or purple.