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Spiky bush ID

jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
in Plants
It doesn’t have leaves at the moment so can’t do any closer.

But it’s a bush, this is a mature one… and the branches have horrible fine spikes that hurt like hell if you get pregnant like them.

Any idea what it is?


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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,094
    Berberis thunbergii??   https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99268/Purple-Japanese-barberry/Details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    Sounds like that’s the one thanks @Obelixx ))

    I want to make it grow more towards the fence (which was moved back recently)… do these respond to pruning well?  

    I’m not thinking about reducing the height… just about a foot off the width on 2 sides …
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,094
    If you read down the info o the RHS page you'll get to "Pruning" with info and/or links about how and when to prune.   It'll be fine as long as the timing is right.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    I find those RHS pruning guides sometimes to be a bit generic or unclear.

    That’s why I like to ask and get stories of first hand experience if possible ... 

    Same goes for guidelines of sunlight / aspect and other things.

    Thanks for the ID.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,094
    Wait for other answers then.  I tried on in my Belgian garden but it didn't survive being "pruned" by a -25C one winter.   Maybe someone who has one in a less extreme/exposed garden can help.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    edited March 2020
    -25c in Belgium??!

    The only time I’ve had experienced anything even remotely like that was Russia… and even then it was about -15!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,151
    I hack mine back whenever it gets out of hand, it seems impossible to kill and grows back fast, but it is a different, bigger, variety. The thorns are so vicious, I hate it but ours forms a useful high hedge for privacy, so I must put up with it.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    @Lizzie27 I’m tempted to pull it up completely as it has injured me so many times ...

    What time of year do you usually cut yours back? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,025
    ' that hurt like hell if you get pregnant like them.' 

    Wow - how does that work?  :D

    They're tough as old boots. Very little would survive -25, but they certainly survive minus 5 to minus 10 here [ even for prolonged spells ] in exposed sites,  and anything else in between that the weather throws at them. 
    I just prune mine when I feel like it. It doesn't affect it in any way. Obviously, it's always better to avoid doing it when poor weather is forecast.  
    I like them - they provide early flowers for insects,and berries later. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    @Fairygirl I didn’t notice that comedy typo ... it was meant to be PRICKLED!! 😂 

    If I cut it now I guess I’d be removing flowers but I can’t remember it flowering if I’m honest.  It just produces quite nice two tone pink and purple with new growth at times and that’s in one of those pics I posted ...
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