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The dwarf shrub Barberry Thunberg "Inspiration" was created by hybridization in the Czech Republic. The frost-resistant culture quickly spread throughout the territory of the Russian Federation. Barberry Thunberg tolerates dry summers, shaded areas, undemanding to care for. Used in site design.
Description of barberry Inspiration
This is a relatively new variety of barberry, which was created specifically for landscape design. Due to the high level of alkaloids, the fruits of the plant are bitter, therefore they are not used for gastronomic purposes. Barberry Thunberg is a perennial deciduous variety. Reaches 55 cm in height, forms a crown in the form of a circle with a diameter of up to 70 cm. Flowering begins in May.
Barberry "Inspiration" is a plant of slow growing season, the growth per season is about 10 cm. It is the leader among crop varieties in terms of frost resistance. Safely tolerates a decrease in temperature to - 250 C. It hibernates under the snow without additional shelter. If the season is not snowy, freezing of the upper part of young shoots is possible, which are completely restored over the summer.
A sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation is the guarantee of the attractiveness of the Thunberg "Inspiration" shrub. In shaded areas, photosynthesis slows down, this is reflected in the decorative effect of the crown. It changes color to a monochromatic, darker color interspersed with green fragments.
Description of Barberry Thunberg "Inspiration" (shown in the photo):
- Thin branches of the shrub grow vertically. The crown is dense, compact, practically without gaps, spherical in shape. Young shoots of bright burgundy color with a glossy surface. Older shoots are darker with a brown tint.
- The type of Thunberg "Inspiration" is in demand among designers because of the color of the bush. On one barberry, there are leaves with white, red, purple specks on a light pink background. The leaves are small, spatulate, 1.2 cm in size. Rounded above, narrowed below, tightly fixed, remain on the plant after autumn frosts.
- The thorniness of the Thunberg barberry "Inspiration" is weak, the spines are short (up to 0.5 cm), simple.
- The culture blooms profusely with bright yellow flowers, collected in inflorescences of 4 pieces, or blooming singly on the shoots. The variety is a honey plant, does not require cross-pollination.
- Berries of the Thunberg barberry are oblong, green at the stage of technical ripeness, after ripening they turn into a bright burgundy color. Well fixed on the stalk, do not fall from the bush until spring, due to the abundance of berries, the Thunberg barberry looks spectacular against the background of snow.
Barberry Inspiration in landscape design
A dwarf ornamental shrub is used for the foreground in a variety of compositions. Used as a single plant, or in combination with higher varieties of barberry. They are planted in a group to form curbs. The main use of the plant is household plots, the front part of administrative buildings, flower beds in recreation parks. Barberry Thunberg, dwarf species is used to create:
- borders along the garden path;
- front background rabatka;
- accent in the center of the flower bed;
- restrictions on the area of the reservoir;
- compositions in the rock garden;
- a concert-focused accent near the stones in rockeries.
Barberry is often used for a shrub-woody composition. Combine "Inspiration" with conifers. Grown as a hedge. The Thunberg variety lends itself well to pruning, forms a hedge of various shapes.
Planting and leaving
Barberry "Inspiration" tolerates a drop in temperature well, therefore it is grown in Siberia, the Urals and the entire territory of the European part of the Russian Federation. Returning spring frosts do not affect the decorativeness of the crown, the barberry will not lose flowers, respectively, by the fall of the fruits. The Thunberg variety "Inspiration" can do without moisture for a long time, it is not afraid of high temperatures, this feature makes barberry a frequent visitor to the southerners' personal plot. The plant is unpretentious in agricultural technology.
Seedling and planting plot preparation
It is customary to plant the Thunberg barberry "Inspiration" in the spring, when the soil is completely warmed up, in regions with a temperate climate, approximately in mid-May, in the South - in April. The autumn planting method is rarely used. The place for the culture is chosen sunny, with good lighting the color of the shrub will be saturated. Photosynthesis will not be affected by temporary shading. With a shortage of ultraviolet light, the barberry will lose its decorative effect.
The culture grows well with a lack of moisture, excess can lead to the death of the plant. The root system of barberry is superficial, prolonged waterlogging leads to root decay. The site for planting is determined on a level or elevated place, swampy lowlands are not suitable. An important requirement is the absence of closely running groundwater. Barberry "Inspiration" does not tolerate the influence of the north wind, the shrub is recommended to be placed on the south or east side.
The soil should be well-drained, slightly acidic or neutral. The plant feels comfortable on sandy loam soil, it can also grow on loamy soil. The plot has been prepared since autumn. Acidic soil is neutralized with dolomite flour or lime. In the spring, the soil will become suitable for planting barberry. Peat is added to black soil. Planting material is used two years of age. Seedlings are chosen with three shoots, with a smooth dark red bark, without damage. The central root should be well developed, without dry areas, the fibrous system without mechanical damage.
Landing rules
When forming a hedge, the Thunberg barberry is placed in a trench. For a single planting, make a groove. Prepare a fertile mixture of equal parts, organic matter, peat, yellow sand. The depth of the pit is 45 cm, the width is 30 cm. If the planting involves the formation of a hedge, 4 plants are placed on one meter. When planting the "Inspiration" barberry as an arabesque, the row spacing should be 50 cm. Algorithm of actions:
- Dig a depression, pour 25 cm of prepared soil onto the bottom.
- Barberry is set in the center, roots are distributed along the bottom of the pit.
- The seedling is covered with earth, leaving the root collar on the surface.
- Water the root with superphosphate diluted in water.
Watering and feeding
Thunberg's Inspiration is a drought-resistant plant. If it rains periodically in summer, the barberry is not watered. In dry summers without precipitation, crops are irrigated early in the morning or after sunset. Young seedlings need watering throughout the season at least four times a month.
On fertile soils, fertilizing is carried out in the spring before the leaves bloom with nitrogen-containing agents. After flowering, organic, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are used. After the cessation of sap flow, the bush is watered abundantly.
Pruning
After planting, the Thunberg barberry is cut in half; over the summer, the culture forms a spherical crown.In the second year of the growing season, weak shoots, branches damaged by frost are removed, and the shrub is sheared to give the desired shape. In subsequent years, pruning of a stunted bush is not required. At the beginning of June, sanitary cleaning is carried out to give an aesthetic appearance.
Preparing for winter
In the absence of snow in regions with a cold climate, the bush is covered with spruce branches or dry leaves. Barberry "Inspiration" successfully winters under the snow cover. A prerequisite is mulching the root circle with a layer of sawdust (up to 10 cm).
Reproduction
Thunberg barberry is propagated on the site by various methods. The generative method is very rarely used, since this work is laborious and time-consuming. Seed germination is weak and does not provide the required amount of planting material. The advantage of generative breeding is the plant's high resistance to infections. Barberry Thunberg grows on a temporary bed for two years, on the third it is assigned to a permanent plot. This method is practiced in commercial nurseries.
Acceptable ways for gardeners:
- By dividing the mother bush. At least four strong trunks and a branched root system are left on each part.
- Layers. Dig in the lower shoot. At the end of August, the fruit buds will form a root, the seedlings are cut, planted in a garden bed, where they grow for a year, then placed on the site.
- By cutting an annual shoot. The material is planted in a temporary place, covered. In a year, the Thunberg "Inspiration" variety is ready for breeding.
The culture after the transfer takes root well, very rarely young seedlings die.
Diseases and pests
Thunberg's inspiration is not considered a resistant species capable of withstanding fungal infection. Most often it is affected:
- bacterial cancer;
- bark necrosis;
- bacteriosis;
- powdery mildew.
The Thunberg variety "Inspiration" is treated with fungicides: "Skor", "Maxim", "Horus".
Spider mites and aphids parasitize on the bush. They get rid of pests with insecticides: Aktellik, Engio, Aktara. For preventive purposes, in the spring, barberry is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
Conclusion
Barberry Thunberg "Inspiration" is a dwarf ornamental shrub. The deciduous culture attracts landscape designers with its exotic crown coloration. The culture is unpretentious in agricultural technology, tolerates low temperatures well. Used to create curbs, hedges, foreground compositions.
