This purple-leaved European Barberry offers three-season interest and an easy, adaptable nature. A cylindrical plant broader at the top than the base, this rare and choice selection grows 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide in 5 years, with yellow blooms in spring, followed by red fruits, in addition to its colorful foliage changes. The deciduous foliage is burgundy, tinted green in intense summer heat and glowing a rich red in fall! Pollution- and drought-tolerant, it is untroubled by pests or disease. This makes it a good choice for perimeter plantings and open gardens; deer tend to leave it alone. But it is also superb for large containers and attractive in pairs flanking an entryway, or as a solitary specimen. Design a small-space accent planting around its narrow, elegant form and unusual color.
Sunjoy™ Gold Pillar is a fine companion to 'Helmond Pillar,' offering brilliant yellow foliage to complement the purple-burgundy shades. Green-leaved Ilex Sky Pencil is also a good choice, its unchanging color providing a good foil for the ever-shifting hues of 'Helmond Pillar'! Why settle for plain green accents when such colorful alternatives are available to make the garden sing? Our cutting-grown specimens prefer full sun or light shade. Zones 4-8.
