Berberis x frikartii Amstelveen - Barberry

Berberis frikartii 'Amstelveen' is a variety of Barberry which is relatively unknown and under-planted in our gardens despite its ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation. It forms a modest-sized bush, with spiny and trailing branches adorned with dense, evergreen, shiny green foliage which turns beautiful shades of brown to orange-red in cold weather. Its cheerful spring flowering, in the form of clusters of small yellow to orange flowers, adds to its charm. Attractive all year round, it makes a versatile ground cover and adapts very well to container gardening, to decorate the terrace throughout the year.

Frikart's Barberry is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family of horticultural origin, obtained in Switzerland. It is the result of cross-breeding between Berberis candidula and Berberis verruculosa, both native to western China. The 'Amstelveen' cultivar was selected in the Netherlands in 1960. This plant is cold-resistant down to -20°C (-4°F), resistant to sea spray and poor, dry soils. It has a bushy, dense, branched and spreading habit, with arching and spiny branches, of ochre-yellow colour. Its growth is quite fast, reaching an average height of 1m (3.28 ft) with a spread of 1 m 20 (3.94 ft) at maturity. In April-May, depending on the climate, small clusters of 2 to 4 small flowers bloom at the axils of the branches. The bell-shaped flowers, 1cm (0.4in) long, are golden yellow, flushed with red on the reverse. They are very nectar-rich and are followed by small fleshy egg-shaped fruits of a chalky blue colour. The evergreen foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of clusters of small leaves, 2 to 4cm (0.8 - 1.6in) long, 1cm (0.4in) wide, leathery, shiny green, almost white on the underside, ending in a spine. It takes on beautiful colours in autumn and winter.

The 'Amstelveen' Barberry is a truly accommodating small shrub in terms of growing conditions and a good ground cover that is interesting all year round. Being content with ordinary, even dry and chalky soil, it can be planted in large borders, alone or in the company of ground cover roses, Nandina 'Firepower', St. John's wort 'Hidcote', or Lonicera nitida, for example. It can also be used in flower beds, large rockeries, or in a large container on a balcony or terrace. This shrub can also be used to cover a slope along steps or highlight the design of a pathway.