Berberis, Japanese Barberry 'First Editions® Toscana™'

Brand:  First Editions

Description:

Stunning red emerging foliage with fine, bright yellow margins that eventually fade in summer, but the foliage remains red; red color darkens in fall, and takes on burgundy tones ; a great landscape specimen, or garden accent

Ornamental Features

First Editions® Toscana™ Barberry has attractive red foliage edged in yellow which emerges scarlet in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn outstanding shades of dark red and in the fall. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes

First Editions® Toscana™ Barberry is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

First Editions® Toscana™ Barberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

First Editions® Toscana™ Barberry will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

First Editions® Toscana™ Barberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our store for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

* Not all container sizes may be available at this time. See store for details on specific container size availability.