Germination,growth and survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Berberis thunbergii</Emphasis> DC. (Berberidaceae) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Berberis thunbergii</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">atropurpurea</Emphasis> in five natural environments

Germination, growth and survival of green Berberis thunbergii and its purple ornamental form, Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea, were compared in five natural environments (full sun meadow, edge of woods, moist woods, dry woods, pine woods) to determine whether these two forms have a similar ability to naturalize. Berberis thunbergii and Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea had similar germination rates of about 25% at the end of 3 years. Most of the seed germination occurred in year one (89%), with a small amount of additional germination in year two (10%), and even less in year three (1%). Greatest germination occurred in the moist woods and full sun meadow sites and the least occurred at the pine woods site. Germination was reduced in the pine woods environment by the thick leaf litter layer present there. Barberry seedling survival during the first year was only 22% and survival dropped to 11.3% by the end of 2 years. Purple barberry seedlings had a lower 2 year survival rate than green barberry. There was no difference in seedling growth between purple and green barberry seedlings, but surviving seedling growth rates at the five environments were comparable. Seedlings achieved maximum growth in the edge of woods environment, but also grew well in the full sun meadow environment. At harvest, the full sun meadow had the greatest number of seedlings present, while no seedlings survived in the pine woods site.