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Anyone know what this shrub is, please?

MistwalkerMistwalker Posts: 65
in Plants
It currently stands about 6 ft tall and has lots of nasty-looking thorns about 15 mm long. Not sure if I want to keep it.




Thanks in advance.

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Looks like Berberis Thunbergii Atropurpurea.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Yes, you are right Borderline.  We have one - not the nicest of shrubs - I keep it mainly for the colour. We try to prune the shrub (without too much injury) each autumn - hence the fresh looking foliage
  • MistwalkerMistwalker Posts: 65
    Thanks guys. Much appreciated as always. I may well get rid of it as I'm not a huge fan.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I thought it looked beefier than thunbergii. More like B. ottwensis superba.
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Not the most beautiful maybe but a wonderful shrub to have near a bird feeder as it provides safe shelter from predators such as sparrow hawks who often swoop down onto  small birds as they congregate around a feeding station. 
    And the autumn colour is great. I'm a fan  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MistwalkerMistwalker Posts: 65
    Now you've done it, Hostafan1. You've opened up a debate. I agree, it does look like it could be that, too.

    It's a good point about the Sparrow Hawks. We have a lot of those around here. Well some kind of bird of prey, anyway. Someone said they may be Kites of some kind. Something to consider.

    Thanks guys.


  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    It's difficult, from the photos to get a proper idea of scale, but I'm still going with B. O. Superba.
    Devon.
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