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Crimson barberry disappointing

2 years ago

Musser Forest in Pennsylvania sells compact crimson barberries. I bought some hoping they would be like the red barberry I have, which is a perfect low mound that never needs pruning. Instead they are three feet high and vase shaped. I guess it serves me right for planting a barberry at all, but what gives?

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Comments (2)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
There are lots of crimson colored/red barberries but unless it was specifically labeled as 'Crimson Pygmy', it could be anything (although to be honest, this plant as been called by a variety of cultivar names). CP rarely will exceed 2-3 feet in height and spread to make a low, dense mound. Even more low and compact are 'Bagatelle' and 'Concorde' but both are more a deep burgundy color rather than red.

btw, there are NO barberries listed on the Musser Forest website or catalog, so tricky to know exactly what they were selling.
kitasei2 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
kitasei2
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes I saw they no longer offer it - maybe it’s been banned? I thought it was pygmy but maybe it was just compact. It’s not a front of the border shrub.
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