Berberis thunbergii Red Rocket - Barberry

The Berberis thunbergii Red Rocket is a variety of Barberry that is relatively tall, distinguished by its fastigiate habit rather than spreading like most of these thorny bushes. It adorns its dense and vertical silhouette with dark purple foliage, turning light red in autumn. The changing colour of the foliage beautifully enhances its small pale yellow flowers tinged with red in spring, and its bright red berries in late summer. This variety is perfect for a small mixed or defensive hedge.

The Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese Barberry is a shrub of the berberidaceae family native to Japan. It is generally characterized by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and deciduous foliage which is nearly evergreen in mild climates.

The 'Red Rocket' cultivar quickly reaches a height of 1.50m (4.92 ft) (up to 2m (6.56 ft)) with a spread of 1m (3.28 ft). When young, the shrub has a very narrow habit, but it becomes more open and dense over time. The branches of this variety, which are yellow to beige in colour, are almost vertical and bear mildly aggressive thorns. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of glossy leaves, measuring 2 to 3cm (0.8 - 1.2in) long and obovate (ovate, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part). Upon budding, they are red, darkening as they mature to purple-brown. In April-May, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers are 1 cm (0.4 in) long, and a soft yellow streaked with red. They are very nectar-rich and are followed in September-October by small bright red spherical fruits, 6 to 8 mm (0.2 - 0.3in) long, which persist on the branches for part of the winter. The foliage turns a beautiful light cherry red before falling.

Japanese Barberry is a very adaptable shrub in terms of soil which tolerates pruning well and prefers sunny exposures. This Red Rocket variety is perfect as a defensive hedge shrub. It can also be planted in shrub borders, to accompany the pink flowers of Kolkvizia, Abelia, dwarf lilacs, or red (Japanese Quince, Genista Boskoop Ruby, Weigelas) or even yellow to orange (Japanese Kerria, Genista Lena Orange, Dropmore Scarlett Honeysuckle). It can also be combined with the grey foliage of Shrubby Wormwoods, Caryopteris Sterling Silver, Salix lanata, or Woolly Willow, for example.