For me, when the weather turns colder, it means it’s time to lug the plastic storage bins of winter clothing up from the basement and pack away the summer shorts and skirts until next year. This year, as I packed up summer, I noticed the cute dress-up clothes that never got touched because there just wasn’t any place to wear them. Had I known then what I know now, maybe I’d have spent time just sitting on the front porch wearing my favorite color-blocked party dress. I suppose I could have worn it at work, but I tend toward more practical-looking (and feeling) clothing for the workplace.

Honestly, when it comes down to it, I’m just not that fancy…but that applies to my clothes, not my garden. In my garden, I love bright blossoms and variegated foliage. In fact, I seek out foliage that adds texture and interest when the blooms aren’t around.

Sunjoy Sequins® Berberis is just that type of plant. Now, those of you who stick to neutral colors and subdued garden palettes won’t be in the market for this plant. This barberry is for the bedazzled crowd.

Yes, it’s flashy – green, cream, and pink variegated foliage doesn’t revert and doesn’t burn. In the fall, the colors really come out in a patchwork of pink and red. The picture on the far right was taken recently in our stock field. That field is in full sun; this plant will also grow in part shade. It gets 3-4′ tall and wide and grows in USDA 4-8.

Don’t let the name fool you: like other barberry this is a hardworking plant, not a special occasion party dress. Berberis will take some tough conditions and landscape challenges, chief among them deer. Yes, this is one plant that deer don’t like.

Unfortunately, for such a useful plant, barberry can be a pest in some regions. Be sure to check your local regulations before using it. If a sterile variety is more appropriate for your area, check out Sunjoy Mini Maroon® or Sunjoy Todo®.

Need a break?

Despite not really having any place to go, it has been a wild year, and it’s not over yet. If you could use a break from current events, check out some of the awesome videos on the Proven Winners ColorChoice YouTube channel.

There’s even a 30-Seconds with Sunjoy Sequins® video that was just posted earlier this month!