Japanese Barberry 'Golden Tower'

Japanese barberry 'Golden Tower' (Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Tower') is a living golden tower that lives up to its name in full. The narrow upright crown of tightly held shoots glows with lemon-gold foliage all summer, and in autumn the tower flares into warm orange and red tones.

Such a barberry is planted in thorny hedges, in edgings and as a bright vertical accent by the house or at the end of a path. The shrub is undemanding: it takes drought, heat and smoky city air, but it will not forgive waterlogged heavy soil with poor drainage. Full sun gives the maximum gold.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The thorny shoots keep deer well away, so the shrub stays untouched where game browses everything else.
• Dimensions: A mature plant holds 0.9-1.8 m tall and 1.2-2.1 m wide.
• Hardiness: Winters calmly - it takes down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: In April-May pale yellow flowers scatter over the bush - a quiet, warm detail of spring.
• Light: Best in full sun; it tolerates partial shade, but only sun brings out the bright foliage colour.
• Soil: It takes dry or moderately moist, well-drained garden soils easily; wet and heavy ground is not for it.
• Watering: Watering is moderate or infrequent; an established bush holds heat and drought with confidence.
• Care: It needs almost no care; trim it wearing gloves - the thorns are dense and sharp.
• Landscape use: Hedges and thorny barriers, borders, underplanting schemes and accents where space is tight.