When I saw it at the nursery it was the most beautiful shade of pumpkin orange. It was advertised as a columnar form of Barberry.

I planted it about four years ago as a two gallon shrub that measured about 18 inches high. The plant in the photo measures right at six feet... so I think it fair to say it is a vigorous grower. It has never, however, been pumpkin orange since the day I first saw it.

Anyone buying this plant should also know it will not remain columnar without assistance from you. Beginning with its second year in the ground I began to contain the stems within a modified form of peony support. I've installed three supports since it began to grow... and I think columnar pretty well defines its form these days.

'Orange Rocket' is a excellent shrub... as long as you understand its needs... and that pretty well boils down to structural support as it grows.

I love these shrubs. We have two very young ones only about 15" tall currently down at our cabin in Central TX. You've done a very nice job of keeping yours columnar! I had no idea they can get as tall as yours. Just lovely.

jathton said: Anyone buying this plant should also know it will not remain columnar without assistance from you. Beginning with its second year in the ground I began to contain the stems within a modified form of peony support. I've installed three supports since it began to grow... and I think columnar pretty well defines its form these days.

I planted an orange rocket last year, in a location where I needed it to stay tidy and columnar. Kind of annoying that it isn't doing that, when that is literally one of its selling points. After hard rain, it's splayed out with branches drooping in every direction; and it stays that way.

I tried trimming it and made the problem even worse. It began growing two branches form every branch that I cut, making it more top-heavy and even more prone to drooping and looking unkempt.