Barberry Red Rocket - description and cultivation
Content:
Barberry has recently been gaining popularity as a decorative decoration for a garden plot. Now there are almost 200 varieties of the plant, but gardeners most often prefer the Red Rockets variety. In landscape design, it is used to create a hedge, decorate flower beds, or just in a single planting. In addition to the aesthetic component, the Thunberg barberry Red Rocket captivates with its unpretentiousness and endurance.
Barberry Red Rocket: variety description
Berberis Thunbergii Red Rocket is a shrub belonging to the Coloniform family. Although it is quite popular in many countries, it has not yet received proper distribution in Russia. Therefore, plant seedlings are difficult to find in stores, and they will be very expensive.
What Red Rocket looks like
Barberry Red Rocket has a striking appearance. Its leaves are elongated and large in size and change color depending on the intensity of light: from red-green to dark purple. Flowering occurs from early May to late June. The blossoming small buds of bright yellow color are collected in cluster-shaped inflorescences.
The shrub reaches a height of 2 m. It does not have developed branching, the crown rarely reaches more than 1 m in diameter. Shoots grow vertically upward and have an oblong elongated shape.
Barberry Thunberg Red Rocket: growing from seeds
Growing barberry from seeds is a rather laborious method that does not guarantee one hundred percent germination. Planting seeds can be done in autumn or spring. Reproduction is carried out in the following sequence:
- Ripe fruits are collected and seeds are extracted from them, which are dried and disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Seeds are planted at a depth of 1 cm and at a distance of at least 3 cm from each other.
- Seedlings are transplanted into open ground no earlier than 2 years later.
- If everything is done correctly, then in another two years the barberry will give its first harvest.
Preparing seedlings for transplanting
Landing in open ground
It is best to plant the plant in open ground in the spring before the first leaves appear. If a hedge is created from barberry, the distance between the holes is made about 50 cm.When planting single bushes, leave 2 m.
A hole is dug 0.5 m deep and wide. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom. The seedling is carefully moved into the hole, the root system is sprinkled with earth mixed with humus and ash. All this is well compacted and watered. Next time, you need to moisten the soil after about 10 days.
To keep moisture in the soil as long as possible, the trunk circle is mulched with dry leaves or bark.
Caring for barberry in the garden
Despite the fact that the Red Rocket barberry is quite unpretentious, it needs to be properly cared for to grow well.
Watering
Too often there is no need to water the barberry bush. This is done only when there has been no natural precipitation for a long time. In order to keep moisture in the soil as long as possible during drought, it must be loosened regularly.
Reproduction
Since seed propagation is a rather difficult method, experienced gardeners use other popular methods:
- cuttings. Planting material is prepared at the beginning of summer. The foliage is removed from the cuttings and placed in a mixture of water and root for several hours. After that, they are planted in a moistened nutrient substrate and greenhouse conditions are created. Landing in a permanent place is carried out after a few years;
- layering. In the spring, with the onset of heat, a small hole is dug next to the bush. Choose a powerful shoot and bend it so that the middle is in the hole. Then it is sprinkled with earth and tamped well. In the fall, the offshoot can be planted from the mother bush;
- division. At the beginning of spring, the bush is dug up and divided in two with the help of a saw. So that the root system does not suffer, the cut site is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or charcoal.
Reproduction by dividing the bush is possible only with adult bushes
Pruning
Red Rocket barberry does not need mandatory pruning. Sanitary pruning is recommended for young bushes, in which frozen, diseased and dried shoots are removed. The procedure should be carried out in the spring, as soon as the snow has melted, but the first leaves have not yet appeared.
Adult shrubs need anti-aging pruning. In the fall, all old branches that grow near the ground are removed.
If the Red Rocket is grown for decorative purposes, it needs molding pruning. Perform it after flowering.
Diseases and pests
Red Rocket is highly resistant to various diseases. However, there are some that can be dangerous to him. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, spotting and bacteriosis can kill the plant. Therefore, at the first signs of infection, the barberry must be treated with fungicides.
Flowering period and care after it
The flowering period of barberry begins in June and lasts all summer. At this time, bright yellow buds appear on the bush, which are formed into cluster-shaped inflorescences. In autumn, fruits are formed from flowers, but they are edible only in common barberry. After the flowering of the shrub is over, watering and feeding are reduced. Pruning is also done to shape the appearance of the plant.
Preparation for wintering
Since the Red Rocket barberry is a frost-resistant plant, preparation for wintering depends on the region where it grows. Where there is little snow and not too cold, there is no need to cover the bush. An exception is made for barberries aged 2-3 years. If, according to forecasts, severe frosts are planned, then the bush is sheltered for the winter with peat or straw.
Use in landscape design
Due to its spectacular appearance, Red Rocket is actively used by gardeners to create landscaping on a garden plot. The plant looks great both alone and in the company of other varieties of barberry.
This type is used to create hedges, design alpine slides, stone gardens. With its help, you can create a unique design at the summer cottage.
Thus, the barberry Red Rocket is worthy to become a real decoration of the site.With its help, you can create unusual compositions that will delight you with their appearance throughout the summer.
