Barberries are virtually carefree: no real problems with diseases or bugs.  Deer leave them alone and pruning is strictly optional, making them an easy purchase decision. This Barberry is quite different from its other Barberry siblings: tall and slender, it matures into a vertical columnar shape, almost like a piece of living statuary. The strong structural lines of ‘Helmond Pillar’ lend it to a myriad of placements: in a perennial border, as a truly unique specimen plant or as a formal hedge, divider or screen. The rich purple foliage is dotted with tiny, bright yellow flowers in spring which morph into cute red berries in the fall. Likes full sun and well-drained soil, but will tolerate a little drought; it’s even known to withstand big-city pollution. As with all Barberries, its stems are thorny-but-effective varmint deterrents when strategically planted. Zones 4-8..