Berberis sanguinea ("Hosobatenjikumegi")

Japanese name: ホソバテンジクメギ （細葉天竺目木）
Scientific name: Berberis sanguinea

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub about 3 m tall.
The branches are ridged, and sharp three-branched spines are present at the nodes of the branches.
Leaves are simple, clustered on short shoots and alternate on long shoots, linear-lanceolate, 1.5–6 cm long and 0.3–0.6 cm wide.
The leaves are somewhat leathery and stalkless, with 7–14 pairs of spiny teeth on the margins.
Old leaves turn red before falling.
At the tips of short shoots, 2–7 yellow six-petaled flowers are borne in clusters, and the small flower stalks and outer sepals are red.
The fruit is an elliptical berry, at first crimson, later ripening bluish black.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
For seed, collect ripe fruit, wash off the pulp with water, and sow immediately.
It grows in sun to partial shade and is not particular about soil, but prefers fertile soil that does not become too dry.
It is hardy and easy to grow.
For potted plants, water thoroughly from spring to autumn when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, watering is not particularly necessary unless it becomes extremely dry.
Apply slow-release fertilizer in winter.
If the branches become leggy, prune to tidy the shape.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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