Japanese Barberry

This dense, thorny multi-seasonal shrub is perfect for spicing up your landscaping.

Related To:

bright_barberry_mh

Plant type: deciduous shrub
Zone: 4 to 8

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a dense, rounded, thorny shrub that grows slowly to somewhere between three to six feet high and slightly wider. Its green leaves emerge early in spring, in the fall turning orange, scarlet or reddish-purple in fall. Colors and size vary considerably among the cultivars. Tiny flowers appear under the foliage in spring and are considered ornamental (but can be in certain cultivars); red berries form in late summer and hold through winter.

Barberry makes a useful hedge or barrier planting; sometimes cultivars are used to spice things up in a landscape grouping.
This shrub is adaptable to a wide range of soils except for wet conditions. Give it full sun.

Note: In some parts of the country, Japanese barberry is invasive. Check with your local extension office to determine whether it's a problem in your area, and/or choose cultivars that are seedless or that are not deemed invasive. Where not invasive, Japanese barberry makes a tough, useful, multi-seasonal shrub.

Selected cultivars:

'Gold Nugget'. Foliage is yellow-gold, turning orangish in fall. New growth is orange-yellow. A dwarf form, the mature height is usually no more than two feet. Produces few, if any, berries.

'Aurea'. Leaves are a very bright yellow in sun (becomes yellow-green in shade). Height is usually three to four feet. Produces few, if any, berries.

'Concorde'. Foliage is deep reddish-purple; grows very slowly to about two feet high by three feet wide. Produces few, if any, berries.

'Rose Glow'. New leaves emerge as mottled smoky-pink and reddish-purple, maturing to a deep rose-purple. Berries are orange-scarlet. Mature height is about five to six feet. Produces some fruit; check for invasiveness potential in your area.

'Sparkle'. Flowers are yellow and somewhat ornamental. The dark green foliage of summer turns a brilliant reddish-orange in fall. Berries are bright red. Produces some fruit; check for invasiveness potential in your area.

Next Up

When is The Best Time to Plant Hydrangeas?

Bring home the beauty of hydrangeas by adding a bush—or three!—to your yard.

When to Prune Hydrangeas: Expert Tips

To know when to cut back hydrangeas, you'll need to know the varieties of hydrangeas in your garden.

How to Grow Blueberries

Blueberry plants can produce fruits for decades. Learn how to plant and maintain them the right way so they will reward you with delicious berries for years to come.

Rose Leaves Turning Yellow

When rose leaves turn yellow and drop off, your plants are sending out a cry for help. Learn how to nurse them back to health.

How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hydrangeas

No garden’s complete without this old-fashioned favorite, and new varieties make hydrangeas easier than ever to grow.

Snowball Bush Viburnum: How to Grow

Find out how to grow and care for snowball bush, an old-fashioned shrub known for its masses of beautiful white, snowball-like flower clusters.

How to Prune Roses

Pruning your roses will help increase blooming and decrease disease and pest problems. Follow these steps to learn how to make the right cuts.

'Limelight' Hydrangea Planting and Growing Tips

Bask in the late-summer limelight with these gorgeous blooms.

How to Grow Knock Out Roses

Roses are garden divas, but easy-to-grow Knock Out roses put roses within the skill set of most gardeners.

How to Grow and Care for Weigela

Brighten up the spring landscape with the beautiful pink blossoms of weigela bush, an easy, old-fashioned favorite that attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Modern varieties offer extra appeal.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.