Chocolate Summer Barberry Plants

Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea 'Chocolate Summer': Barberry Plants

A lovely purple, thorny shrub, with an upright growth habit that conveniently reaches about 1.2 metres tall, ideal for ornamental hedging within the garden. The small yellow flowers attract insects, and mature into glossy red berries by the end of summer. 

Browse our full range of berberis, or our other garden shrubs.

Features:

• Rich purple new foliage & stems, maturing to purple-brown
• Hedging, Shrub, Wildlife Value.
• Coastal Areas, Exposed Windy Areas.
• RHS Plants for Pollinators
• To 125cm x 75cm

Growing Berberis Chocolate Summer

A great low ornamental hedging plant, happiest on moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It is tolerant of exposed coastal conditions, and drought tolerant when established, but can be prone to mildew on dry soils.

It is relatively slow growing, so don't clip in its first year. In the winter of the year after planting, trim lightly to make it bushy, repeating every winter after that until it is mature.

Old specimen shrubs can be coppiced to encourage new, brighter stems and summer foliage colour.