Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Helmond Pillar'
Japanese barberry 'Helmond Pillar'
A bushy, deciduous spiny shrub with a narrow, upright habit, eventually reaching 1.5m in height. Small pale yellow flowers are borne in late spring, followed by red berries in the autumn; often persisting into winter. Foliage is brownish-red and deciduous; autumn leaf fall exposes the brown, thorny stems
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Purple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | |||
| Autumn | Bronze Red Purple | Red | ||
| Winter | Brown | Red |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Berberis can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with spiny shoots bearing simple, often spine-toothed leaves, and small yellow or orange flowers in axillary clusters or racemes, followed by small berries
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Tolerant of a range of soils and locations, but grows best in any well drained soil in full sun or partial shade, though flowering and fruiting are best in full sun. A useful upright accent plant in the garden. See berberis cultivation for further advice.
Propagation
Propagate by sotwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pruning group 2; only requires light pruning to maintain upright habit
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and berberis sawfly
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and sometimes by honey fungus
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Helmond Pillar'
Japanese barberry 'Helmond Pillar'
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