Landscape Barberry - Windswept Progression

While doing a landscape job in the summer of 2007, the homeowner told me I could have this dwarf green Barberry that she wanted removed. I wasn't sure how it would transplant since it was early summer.

I actually split the plant into two clumps. I put them into coarse media and both pieces seemed to do well. (The other piece is featured in another thread)

This piece of Barberry I decided to develop as a windswept clump. I transplanted it in March 2010 from the square, wooden training box into a shallow rectangular training box until I can find a suitable pot. I'm leaning toward a shallow oval pot or slab.

2007


2008


after transplanting in 2010

It is a green leaf Barberry and the growth is compact. Upon collection it was a two foot diameter globe.

UConn database lists two green cultivars, 'Kobold' and 'Sparkle'. After also consulting the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael Dirr, 'Kobold' seems to fit the description based on ample fruiting.

I've included a picture of my plant's fall color.

My secret for working on Barberry (and Junipers) is a pair of leather work gloves where I've cut the fingertips off the gloves just enough so I have the ability to grip with my fingers but it protects the remainder of my hands and fingers. There are still occasional wake-up calls from thorns but it is more tolerable overall.

Total time for wiring was approximately 2 hours with aluminum wire. Since it's a brittle species I worked carefully and only broke a few minor branches.

2010 I made a slab for this clump. The root zone was shallow and flat on the bottom so I lifted it out of its training box and was able to set it on the slab with no additional disturbance to the roots. It is growing strongly and did not require any further root trimming so I decided to set it on the slab this year even though I moved it from the deep grow box to the shallow one in March 2010.

I made "muck" to form the wall around the root pad out of clay from my yard, sphagnum moss and peat moss. The muck turned out great and was very pliable and sticky.

The slab is flat and the next level of material is the muck with moss planted on it.

Defintely needs trimming to refine the form

Thinned out the small spur growth. Before and after pics.

Ohio Regional Bonsai Show at Dawes Arboretum - June 2011

Very nice Eric. The late winter/early spring pictures are especially beautiful. I really like barberries, but they aren't very happy this far south. Glad to see you working with it, we don't see enough of them, imo.

R

Thanks, Russell!
They are rugged and nice to work with except they bite back as you know! .

Tree on display at the 33rd Ohio Regional Bonsai Show at Dawes Arboretum, June 8th-9th.