Barberry, a shrub in the mountainous areas

Barberry belongs to the barberry family. It grows as a tree or shrub. Its name comes from Arabic. It means "shell-shaped." This plant thrives in northern mountains. There are around 170 natural types. Gardeners often grow some at home.

Barberry is known for its berries. Some berries are safe to eat. The thorny bushes are also very pretty. Landscape designers love them for this reason. Dwarf types are popular. They stay small and grow slowly.

Barberry is easy to care for. It can handle dry conditions. It also tolerates frost well. Growing new plants is also simple.

The plant adjusts well to new locations. It does not need much fertilizer. It rarely needs pest control.

Some call it candy bush. Its berries resemble the caramels of the same name. These candies have been around since Soviet times. Some barberry types stay green all year. Others lose leaves, fully or partly. Leaves grow in bunches. Thin branches have thorns that point up.

Barberry can be 30 cm to 3 m tall. Grown-up tall ones have round or column-shaped crowns. It grows fast. It can live 40-50 years.

Flowering makes it very appealing. This lasts 2-3 weeks. The plant gets covered in many flower colors. Berries appear by September. They are oval. Their colors are burgundy, red, or black. Berries stay on branches a long time, even in winter. This makes the garden look great.

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