Berberis thunbergii Admiration - Barberry

The Berberis thunbergii Admiration is a variety of barberry characterized by a naturally compact habit and remarkably colourful foliage, from spring to autumn. It is a small spiny deciduous bush, with leaves that successively change from vibrant red in spring to purple with yellow margins and finally to orange-red in autumn. In spring, its small yellow flowers stand out against the foliage, as do its bright red berries in late summer. Its dense growth and modest size make it interesting in a large border, shrub bed, or mixed hedge.

The Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese barberry, is a bush in the family Berberidaceae, native to Japan. It has a bushy, spreading habit and deciduous or semi-evergreen foliage in mild climates.

The 'Admiration' cultivar was obtained in 1995 by Michal Andrusiv in the Czech Republic. The bush will quickly reach a height of 1.20m (3ft 11in) with a spread of 1.50m (4ft 11in). The red branches are rather upright and bear quite aggressive thorns. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of rounded leaves measuring 2 to 3cm (1.2in) in length, obovate (ovate, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part), and shiny. When they first emerge, they have a light and vibrant red colour, then as they mature, they turn purple with a yellow margin. In April-May, clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers, 1cm (0.4in) long, are pale yellow, tinged with red on the outside. They are nectar-rich and followed in September-October by a few small bright red spherical fruits, measuring 6 to 8mm (0.3in) in length which persist on the branches for part of the winter. The foliage takes on a beautiful reddish-orange hue before falling in October-November.

The Berberis thunbergii Admiration, hardy down to -15°C (5°F), thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil, even if it is chalky, poor, or rocky, but not excessively dry in summer. Naturally compact, it does not require pruning. It can be used to create a low hedge, combined with other golden-leaved barberries ('Bonanza Gold') or silver-leaved shrubs (Powis Castle artemisia), to create a beautiful colour scheme. Easily create an attractive scene by combining it with Pieris, heucheras, and Chinese peonies.