Japanese barberry "Maja"

• Species: Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii
• Height: about 0.6–1.5 m (species data)
• Spread: about 0.8–1.5 m
• Flowering: May, small yellow flowers
• Foliage: red-orange in autumn (species data)
• Fruit: red berries in autumn, not edible
• Light: full sun or part shade
• Soil: ordinary, well drained; dislikes waterlogging
• Hardiness: USDA zones 4–5, no cover needed

Planting. Plant in spring or autumn in full sun (foliage colours best in light) in any well-drained soil; lime acid soil lightly with wood ash. Space plants 30–50 cm apart for a hedge or 1–1.5 m for a single shrub, then mulch.

Care. Japanese barberry is undemanding and drought-tolerant, but in dense plantings check the leaves for powdery mildew. Wear thick gloves, as the thorns are sharp.

Watering and feeding. Water young plants 1–2 times a week in drought; established shrubs rarely need it. Apply a balanced fertiliser or compost in spring; no other feeding is required.

Winter and pruning. Good hardiness (USDA zones 4–5) and no cover needed, though a mulch helps young shrubs in their first winter. Clip hedges in early summer and after leaf fall; on a single shrub remove dead and crowded branches.