Most often called Japanese barberry, I can’t remember if the seeds for my plants came from the Washington Park Arboretum or, more likely, from some landscape I was wandering near or through. I am very drawn to barberry berries, as they are a brilliant reddish orange or red and they have a nice oval shape and are the perfect size for accidentally falling into pockets.

My seedlings are about three years old and they have been growing slowly. The leaves are a reddish-green most of the time, but now (November) is when they really make themselves known by coloring up in scarlet and orange tones.

My seedlings are destined for bonsai pots soon, as are most of my tree and shrub seedlings. I’ll prune them to maximize their leaves because come autumn, I’ll want them to light up the bonsai shelf with their true colors.