Like any contrasting Japanese barberry, the Japanese barberry ‘Concord’ (Berberis thunbergii), a most compact, dense and intensely purple variety, makes a ground cover that highlights any other surrounding plant. Although it is thorny, it can be admired from afar, because it requires no maintenance. Satisfied with partial shade, the Japanese barberry ‘Concord’ shines especially in the sun, in any type of soil and tolerates acidity and drought without being affected by pollution or salt.

The small edible fruits are above all festive on rice as white as snow, persistent until they are picked freeze-dried, softened by the cold. To complete the portrait in the kitchen, the leaves, with a sorrel taste, cast a burst of lemony color on a potato salad, on white pasta or in a mesclun.

Caution: Like rhubarb, barberry leaves and fruit contain oxalic acid, avoid if you are prone to kidney stones.

Self-pollinating.

Remplace : grenade, citron et lime. Accords : divers hors‑d’œuvres, bouchées et pâtisseries (séché, concassé puis saupoudré), orge perlé (fruits et feuilles), riz (fruits et feuilles) et houmous.