Crimson pygmy barberry shrub is a plant that is native to North America. The plant is a small shrub that typically grows to be about 3 feet tall. The leaves of the plant are small and oval shaped. The flowers of the plant are white and have five petals. The fruit of the plant is a small, red berry.
Related plant:
Crimson Barberry
About soil condition, the crimson pygmy barberry shrub prefers well-drained soil, and it will not tolerate soggy soil conditions. The plant does well in average to dry soil, but it will not tolerate drought conditions. The plant prefers a loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH level.
Like the other pygmy barberry shrubs, the crimson pygmy barberry shrub needs full sun in order to thrive. This means that it should be planted in an area of your yard that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you live in a climate with long, hot summers, you may need to provide some afternoon shade for your shrub to prevent it from getting sunburned.
The temperature condition that is most ideal for the crimson pygmy barberry shrub is one that is cool and moist. This shrub does not like it when the temperature gets too hot or too cold. When the temperature is too hot, the leaves of the shrub will start to turn yellow and then fall off. If the temperature gets too cold, the shrub will die.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50%. If the humidity gets any lower than that, the leaves will start to curl and the plant will become stressed. If the humidity gets any higher than that, the leaves will start to drop off.
Mentioning fertilizer, this plant is not a heavy feeder. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in early spring is all that is needed. Be sure to keep fertilizer off the leaves to avoid leaf burn. Like all plants, Crimson Pygmy barberry shrub will benefit from being fed with compost or other organic matter every year or two. If you choose to use inorganic fertilizer, a product with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 is a good choice.
Pruning your crimson pygmy barberry shrub is important to maintain its shape and size. You can prune your shrub in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or damaged branches, as well as any suckers that may have grown. You can also trim back any overgrown branches to keep your shrub looking its best.
Propagation of crimson pygmy barberry shrubs is typically done through softwood cuttings taken from new growth in late spring or early summer. The cuttings should be 4-6 inches long and taken from the tips of the stems. Cuttings should be placed in a moist, well-drained soil mix and kept under partial shade. Once the cuttings have rooted, they can be transplanted into individual pots or into the garden.
Usually, the plant growth rate is very slow. In fact, some species of this plant can take up to five years just to mature. However, there are a few exceptions and some species of crimson pygmy barberry shrub can mature in as little as two years. When it comes to height, most crimson pygmy barberry shrubs only grow to be about two to three feet tall. However, there are some that can grow up to six feet tall.
Common problems for this kind of plant are powdery mildew, Leaf spot, and rust. These can be caused by different reasons such as too much moisture, not enough light, or poor air circulation. To prevent these problems, it is important to water the shrub at the base instead of from the top, and to make sure that the shrub has enough light and air circulation.
Source:
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy' habit: UIPLANTS
Add Color To Shrubs With Japanese Barberry | Mississippi State ...
Deciduous Shrubs - 7.415 - Extension
