Japanese Barberry 'Deep Purple'

Japanese Barberry 'Deep Purple' (Berberis thunbergii 'Deep Purple') is a shrub of deep, dark colour that holds its tone all season. In autumn the crown flares fiery red and crimson, and glossy red berries stay on the thorny shoots all winter.

Plant it in low clipped or informal hedges, in contrasting groups with conifers, in rock gardens and as a dark accent in a mixed border - it works best next to silver or golden foliage. The shrub is undemanding, takes clipping well and is entirely at home in town planting.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: Japanese barberry copes calmly with city air and roadside dust, and deer leave its thorny shoots alone.
• Hardiness: It takes down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: In April and May small but charming pale yellow flowers open.
• Light: It shows best in full sun; it takes partial shade, but the brightest leaf colour comes in an open spot.
• Soil: It takes any ordinary well-drained garden soil - the one thing it will not stand is standing water and heavy wet substrates.
• Watering: Watering dry to medium: mature bushes take heat and drought in their stride.
• Care: Care is easy; prune to RHS group 8 - shape and thin out after flowering.
• Landscape use: A low hedge, a thorny barrier, a border, a rockery and an accent in a mixed planting.