- Beautiful barberry ground cover for the garden - a selection of varieties
- Determine plant requirements per square meter - this is how it works
Barberries live up to their reputation as organic barbed wire not only as majestic hedges. If the thorn-armed shoots spread out on the ground, an impenetrable cushion is created for weeds and cheeky four-legged friends alike. Here you can get to know recommended barberry varieties with a talent for ground cover.
The cushion barberry flowers yellow
Beautiful barberry ground cover for the garden - a selection of varieties
The decisive criterion for the function as a ground cover is a dwarf growth. The following barberry varieties don't leave it at that, but show off with evergreen leaves and strong thorns. Deciduous Berberis species score with pretty flowers and autumnal fruit decorations. Make your choice:
| Barberry ground cover | botanical name | growth height | growth width | shedding/evergreen | special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Bloodbarberry 'Atropurpurea Nana' | Berberis thunbergii | 30 to 40 cm | 50 to 100 cm | deciduous | crimson leaves |
| Golden barberry 'Aurea' | Berberis thunbergii | 50 to 80 cm | 40 to 60 cm | deciduous | golden foliage |
| Green cushion barberry 'Nana' | Berberis buxifolia | 40 to 75 cm | 60 to 80 cm | evergreen | rounded growth |
| Snowy Barberry, Pillow Barberry | Berberis candidula | 60 to 80 cm | 80 to 160 cm | evergreen | Leaves are dark green on top and snow-white on the underside |
Determine plant requirements per square meter - this is how it works
The selection of suitable barberry for cultivation as a ground cover goes hand in hand with the question of the plant requirement per square meter. The rule of thumb is: 6 to 8 plants in a 1 liter container, which corresponds to a distance of 35 to 40 cm. This density scores with an optimal ratio of costs and rapid area greening.
Saving foxes among home gardeners plant 5 barberries per square meter so that the area is opaquely overgrown after 2 to 3 years. If you have a generous budget, you can plant 8 to 10 ground covers per square meter, which results in rapid weed suppression and low maintenance.
tips
Pruning barberries as a hedge or groundcover could be so easy if it weren't for the thorns. Some of the most beautiful varieties not only have sharp spines on the shoots. The leaves are armed with small thorns along the edges that can cause painful injuries. Before cutting the shrubs, please put on thorn-resistant gloves with gauntlets and safety goggles.