Fig. 1. The dark, lustrous, evergreen, holly-like foliage 
of the Oregon grape (Berberis Aquifolium) 
All the Barberries Worth Growing—By John Dunbar, 
Fig. 2. The best tall barberry with holly-like leaves 
(B. Faponica). Height 5 to 10 feet 
Fig. 3. The Oregon grape in flower. All barberries 
have small, yellow flowers. (B. Aguifolium) 
Rochester, 
New York 
A GROUP CONTAINING THE BEST RED-BERRIED SHRUBS FOR WINTER CHEER, AND SOME EVER- 
GREEN PLANTS WITH HOLLY-LIKE LEAVES WHICH TAKE ON GLORIOUS BRONZY TINTS IN WINTER 
[The twelfth of those “Little Monographs” which mark a new era in horticultural literature because they focus the atiention constantly upon the comparative value of 
the different species, and because they give a new kind of key, a “purchaser’s guide.” Anyone who can show that there is any inducement to grow any other species is in- 
vited to submit proof and pictures. 
ae very best red-berried shrubs for 
winter effect in the North are the com- 
mon barberry and Thunberg’s. This is be- 
cause red is the cheeriest color against the 
snow and because these barberries remain 
attractive all winter. Of course, the holly is 
better, because of its evergreen foliage and 
sentiment, but holly can be grown North only 
in sheltered positions. There are many 
other shrubs with equally brilliant berries, 
but all of them lose their color or the birds 
pick them off before the winter is over. 
There are seven species of barberry worth 
growing for their red berries, to say nothing 
of the kinds with yellow or violet colored 
fruits. These all shed their leaves in winter 
and are perfectly hardy. And there are nine 
species worth cultivating for their evergreen 
foliage which is often holly-like and these 
species always require a partly-shaded posi- 
tion sheltered from the winter winds. 
I. The Bright-berried or Deciduous 
Group 
THE FAVORITE—THUNBERG’S 
The one barberry that is planted more than 
all others put together is Berberis Thunbergii. 
(See Fig. ro.) It differs from all the others in 
having its berries scattered singly along the 
branch or sometimes in pairs, whereas the 
other bright-berried species bear their fruits 
in clusters. For this reason, a spray of 
Thunberg’s barberry rarely makes a pretty 
photograph, but in real life it is beautiful 
enough. Even if it bore no berries, this 
shrub would be worth growing for the winter 
effect of its branches, its innumerable, slender 
arching branches being full of feathery grace. 
You cannot say that Thunberg’s barberry has 
the most gorgeous autumn coloring in the 
genus, but when you have half a mile of it 
bordering a drive, as in Boston or Rochester, 
the tones of green, bronze and red combined 
with the myriads of scarlet berries, the splen- 
dor of it is absolutely overwhelming. It is 
also the best deciduous, ornamental hedge- 
plant of its height in cultivation. It has the 
extraordinary merit of always being well 
furnished with foliage and branches at the 
base where nearly all other hedge-plants are 
deplorably weak. And it has the most ac- 
commodating prickers in the world—just 
enough for a gentle reminder—not enough to 
tear your clothes. 
But everything has its limitations. Thun- 
berg’s barberry grows only three or four feet 
high—not high enough to screen unsightly 
objects—and like other barberries it has bad 
smelling flowers. 
ITS SOLE RIVAL—VULGARIS 
The “‘common” barberry, in the opinion 
of many, is even more beautiful than Thun- 
berg’s, because its berries are in clusters. 
(See Fig. 11). It is decidedly taller (four to 
eight feet), and has strong, up-growing stems. 
The berries make an excellent sauce. The 
autumn coloring is not as good as that of its 
rival and it looks at home in American woods, 
while the other does not. 
This is the cosmopolitan member of the 
genus. Most people suppose it to be native 
to America, but it has only run wild here. 
It came from Europe and Asia. This is the 
species that has the greatest number of 
varieties, including white, yellow, violet 
and black-fruited kinds. The purplish-black 
variety Fischeri is particularly good. (See 
Fig. 12.) There is a variety with few spines 
(mitis) and one with less acid fruits (dulcis). 
122 
But the kind that we see everywhere is the 
purple-leaved variety, atropurpurea. 
FOUR SPECIES FOR CONNOISSEURS 
The next four are different enough for the 
collector, but they cannot compete for pop- 
ular favor with the above. 
The Amoor barberry (B. Amurensis) is so 
closely related to the common barberry that 
I often suspect it to be only a geographical 
form. It differs in having fewer berries in a 
bunch (6 to 12), upright or nodding flower 
clusters and a leaf which is not wider above 
the middle. It is a strong-growing shrub that 
stands drought well. 
The plant known to nurserymen as B. 
Sieboldt (See Fig. 4) and to importers of 
Japanese plants as B. Hakodate is properly 
B. Amurensis, var. Japonica according to the 
Cyclopedia of American Horticulture. It has 
a dark green, almost leathery leaf and even 
~ more brilliant autumn colors than B. Amu- 
rensis. It is a compact, broadheaded shrub 
five feet high and seven feet across. 
The Canadian barberry (Berberis Canad- 
ensis) grows two to five feet high, and closely 
resembles the common barberry, with which 
it is confused in the trade. The Canadian 
barberry is smaller in every way, and the 
flowers are paler. Also, the berries are gen- 
erally oval, instead of oblong. 
The Chinese barberry (Berberis Simensis) 
has beautiful tapering olive green leaves, and 
can be used to excellent advantage in the 
choicest decorative plantings. It blooms 
about May 25th, the slender, pale yellow 
clusters of flowers hanging gracefully from 
the arching branches. The light, reddish 
brown branches are somewhat ascending at 
first, and later assume a drooping position. 
The plant grows from three to six feet tall. 
