Barbaris Tunberga, "Atropurpurea" is a stunning plant with unusual purple-red leaves. Such a bush will not be lost on the site for anything - it's hard not to notice and appreciate its decorativeness.
But besides purely aesthetic functionality, it brings tasty and useful fruits . Few people do not know the taste of the famous candies "Barberry" - sweet and sour, slightly chilled, with a unique aftertaste. So, you can imagine the taste of the fruits of barberry.
Description of Barbaris Thunberg "Atropurpurea"
This deciduous shrub has an oval crown, the height and diameter of the barberry of Thunberg "Atropupurea" reaches 2-3 meters. The plant is very durable, it can grow to 50 years. At the same time, the bush grows and grows quite rapidly - the annual increment is 25 cm in height and 35 cm in width.
Blossoms the barberry of Thunberg "Atropurpurea" with flat and round yellow flowers inside and purple - outside. The flowers are small and collected in inflorescences. The leaves are obovate, the color is purple. The size of the leaf is 2-4 cm.
Decorative bush is preserved throughout the growing season, that is, from spring to late autumn. But it is especially attractive in the flowering period.
The fruits of barberry are numerous, oblong, coral. The period of ripening is at the beginning of autumn, and they can stay on the branches for a long time.
Barbaris "Atropurpurea" is absolutely undemanding to the soil, it can grow both in the garden and in the city. Excellent gives in to a haircut, although it has thorns on its branches. Often, because of its decorativeness, it is used in landscape design. Planted in stony gardens or on the banks of water bodies, they create beautiful landscape compositions. If the bushes are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other, with time, overgrown, they will create a beautiful hedge.
Barbaris "Atropurpurea" - planting and care
This plant is photophilous, resistant to drought and frost. His homeland is Crimea, Caucasus, Europe. To plant bushes of barberry is best in open places or light shade. If barberry grows in a thick shadow, the decorative effect of its color is lost.
Reproduction of barberry of Tunberga "Atropurpurea" is produced by seedlings that can offer nurseries. A greenish young plant is planted immediately in the open ground in the month of May. The optimum acidity of the soil for its cultivation is pH 6.0-7.5.
For the second year after planting the bushes of barberry, it is necessary to feed nitrogen fertilizers: 20-30 grams per plant. This amount is diluted in 10 liters of water and poured under the barrel.
Watering should be done once a week. In arid times - a little more often, especially for young plants.
Loosen the soil at a shallow depth - about 3 cm. This will protect against weeds and help the roots "breathe". Prestugolny circle immediately after planting can be covered with peat, wood chips or peat.
Since barberry grows very much, it needs regular pruning. Usually it is done in the spring. We need to remove weak and insufficiently developed shoots. If you want to get a hedge,
For the winter young bushes should be covered with lapnika. After 2-3 years, this becomes unnecessary - an ingrained plant is well tolerated by cold.
Diseases and pests
Barbaris Tunberg "Atropurpurea" is exposed to pests such as moth and aphids. Diseases that can hit him are rust and powdery mildew.