Berberidopsis corallina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berberidopsis corallina |
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Berberidopsis
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corallina
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Berberidopsis corallina is a beautiful plant that people grow for its looks. It's originally from Chile, a country in South America. This plant is thought to grow only in the forests near the port of Coronel in the Arauco province. It might even be gone from there now. A person named Richard Pearce brought this plant to other parts of the world in 1862.
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What is Berberidopsis corallina?
Berberidopsis corallina is an evergreen shrub that climbs. "Evergreen" means its leaves stay green all year, and "scandent" means it likes to climb or sprawl. Its leaves are dark green and grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are shaped like an oval or a heart and feel stiff. The edges and tips of the leaves have spiny teeth, and they can be from 1.5 to 4 inches long.
Flowers of the Coral Plant
The flowers of this plant grow in a few places. They appear where the top leaves meet the stem (called "axils") and also in a cluster at the very end of the stem (a "terminal raceme"). This makes a thick bunch of flowers that hang down. Each flower hangs from a thin stalk that is crimson red, just like the flower itself. These stalks are about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
The flowers are round, about half an inch wide. They have nine to fifteen parts that look like petals. The outer parts are small and spread out, while the inner ones are bigger and curved inward. All of these parts are a deep crimson color, which is why it's sometimes called the "coral plant." It starts blooming in July and stays beautiful for about two or three months.
How to Grow Berberidopsis corallina
This plant can be a bit tricky to grow and isn't super tough. In gardens in the western part of the UK, you can plant it near trees or let it grow among other shrubs. However, in most other places, it needs protection, like against a wall. You should pick a spot carefully.
Best Growing Conditions
Berberidopsis corallina likes soil that is deep and stays moist. It also needs a place that is safe from strong, dry winds and direct sunlight.
This plant prefers rich, acidic soil. Good types of soil include loam (a mix of sand, silt, and clay) and sand. It can handle slightly alkaline soil if you add peat soil to it. However, it doesn't do well in chalky soil, which is very alkaline.
Starting New Plants
You can grow new Berberidopsis corallina plants from cuttings (pieces of the plant that grow roots) or by layering (bending a stem to the ground so it roots). When you first plant them, put a little peaty soil around the roots. Once the plants are settled, they will start to grow strongly.
See also
In Spanish: Michay rojo para niños
