By Seaburngirl
East Yorkshire,
United Kingdom 
Berberis thunbergii 'Helmond Pillar'
Does any one here grow it?
A friend gave me 2 berries from an 'illegal sweep' at a garden centre. She is desperate for one and wants to know if I / she will have any success in growing it. Her garden is over chalk.
Must say not overly happy about the nicked berries. Hate it when people nip pieces off plants thinking it wont matter. But if everyone did it the plants would be bare. sorry rant over.
6 Nov, 2011
Answers
I found it wasn't too happy in dry soil either, often dropping all its leaves by mid August in a hot summer.
Berberis are notorious hybridizers so there's no guarantee any seedlings will come true
6 Nov, 2011
So you might get something really interesting, but it might not hold its arms up - depends on who the father was!
6 Nov, 2011
Shame on you Seaburngirl for handling stolen goods. Did you know that if you are convicted of stealing, or handling stolen fruit you could still get a custodial sentence? And shame on Steragram and Andrewr who appear to be accessories after the fact. Better that you nicked a cutting, at least it would have come true and you wouldn't have gone to jail, ha ha ;o)
6 Nov, 2011
I am not a mere accessory Myron!! And that's a fact.
6 Nov, 2011
Species Berberis come true from seed, but the cultivars are propagated by cuttings because they don't, or the seed isn't viable. I grow this one and B. Red Pillar, and I actually prefer Red Pillar...
7 Nov, 2011
So do I but the nursery only had Helmond Pillar and I was too idle to look elsewhere.
7 Nov, 2011
Sadly, I have to admit that the vast majority of plants I get now are sourced on line - the garden centres seem only to sell whatever's currently in flower at vastly inflated prices.
8 Nov, 2011
first off myron I hope you are not suggesting that it is better to nick a cutting. I personally dont like theft of any kind and havnt yet said i'd grow it for her. as for the law I am well aware of the general legislation and as an botanist/ecologist the more specific laws re native plants.
lets hope you are being tongue in cheek.
8 Nov, 2011
thanks for the horticultural info. I have no idea what her soil is like as her garden at the moment is mainly decking and gravel. not my kind of garden but each t their own.
8 Nov, 2011
Of course I'm being togue-in-cheek. Hope you didn't think otherwise?
8 Nov, 2011
genuinely wasnt certain but one has one's reputation to uphold, especially in my line of work :)
8 Nov, 2011
Previous question
« when should salvia microphyllia hot lips be planted. what time of year?
I have one growing well on very slightly acid ground. But they are pretty tolerant. The only problem I have found with the fastigiate ones is they do not tolerate dry ground, so if you are well drained enrich with humus and keep an eye on it.
6 Nov, 2011