DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21580, 26 August 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

THE BERBERRIES GROUP The berberries are hardy evergreen and deciduous shrubs, ranging in height from 2ft. to 6ft. All varieties are spiny, and produce yellow or ornnge flowers in spring or summer, followed by attractive berries of orange, red, dark blue, or nearly black shades. Most varieties assume brilliant autumn tints and are worth' growing for this effect alone. They grow and thrive in any soil or situation, but fruit and colour best in cool districts. One of the best varieties is Berberis Thunbergii Atropurpurea. This distinct foliaged shrub, which originated in France, will become one of the most popular garden plants where permanent colouring is a feature. Of compact bushy habit, it forms an ideal subject either planted as a single shrub, or in clumps, beds, or as a divisional break. The foliage, when first appearing in spring, is deep purple-red, as dark as the Prunus Pissardii at its best. This colouring softens slightly as the foliage matures, and is maintained right through the summer until late autumn, when the whole plant assumes' a colouring of a rich fiery crimson, with shadings of orange. The flowers produced in spring are as in the green-leaved variety, yellow, followed by purplish crimson berries which persist until late autumn. Other varities are B. aggre§ate; with yellow flowers, coral red ernes and beautiful autumn tinted foliage; B. aquifolium, evergreen with glossy green leaves turning purple and bronze in winter; B. sub caulilata, graceful evergreen variety with small glaucous leaves, and arching branches, and bright pink berries in autumn; B. Wilsonae, a new variety from China of low spreading, semi-deciduous, free branching habit, clothed with neat leaves and needle-like spines, yellow flowers followed by dense crops of berries, which at first are cream, deepening to pink and finally to coral red, the foliage colouring beautifully in late autumn; and B. stenophylla, an evergreen of sft. in height with long graceful shoots, densely clothed with dark shiny leaves,_ covered in spring with masses of bright yellow flowers.