Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry, "Megi")

Japanese name: メギ （目木）
Scientific name: Berberis thunbergii

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub about 2 m tall.
The trunk is much branched, and the bark has irregular vertical fissures and is grayish white to white.
The branches are brown, with conspicuous vertical grooves and ridges.
At the nodes of the branches and the bases of the leaves, sharp spines 5–12 mm long, which are modified leaves, are conspicuous.
The leaves are simple, clustered on short shoots and alternate on long shoots, obovate to elliptic, 1–5 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, with entire margins.
Pendent racemes or umbels emerge at the tips of the short shoots and bear several flowers.
The flowers are greenish yellow, 6-petaled, and 6 mm across.
The fruit is a berry, elliptic, 7–10 mm long, and ripens red.
It resembles Oba-megi, but can be distinguished by its distinct branch ridges and grooves, more numerous spines, and smaller leaves.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or cuttings.
For seed, collect ripe fruit, wash off and remove the pulp, and sow immediately.
It is not particular about soil as long as the site is sunny and well drained.
It also grows in shade, but the branches and leaves become sparse.
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 the soil becomes extremely dry.
Fertilizer is hardly necessary, but if it has been pruned, apply slow-release fertilizer after flowering.
It has strong sprouting ability, so it is easy to shear into shape.
Pruning is best done in the dormant season in January–February or after flowering in May–June, but pruning in winter cuts off the flower buds, so it will not flower the following year.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name "Megi" (目木) comes from the stems and roots of the tree being decocted and used as eye medicine.

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