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Shrubs and Vines: Caryopteris

Cotoneaster Horizontalis resembles the barberry and is chiefly valued for its foliage effect and for its bright red berries which appear toward fall. It is very low growing and spreading in its habit of growth and is best planted to cover steep slopes, in rocks gardens or wherever it is desired to introduce a low growing shrub. [192] Caryopteris Mastacanthus, or Blue Spiræa, is a low-growing, free-flowering bush valued for its late bloom. It is not perfectly hardy in the north and frequently dies back severely. However, the young shoots spring up freely in spring and produce bloom in September. Caryopteris should be situated in a sunny location and in a light, well-drained soil. The flowers are deep lavender.

Berberis Thunbergi, or Japanese Barberry is very well known; its uses are many and it has the advantage of being easily grown thriving in any average garden soil that is well drained. In the autumn its foliage turns a bright red and the bush is covered with attractive red berries. Variety purpurea has dark purple foliage. Box-barberry is a dwarf form of barberry. It is very neat and compact and is well adapted for edging flower beds.