Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000207
11/12/99

Berberis thunbergii--Japanese Barberry


Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Height: 4 ft Spread: 5 ft Form: rounded
Type: deciduous shrub
Annual Growth Rate: 12 to 18 inches
Flowers: Yellow
Fruits: Red

Comments: Bright green summer foliage changes to shades of
red in the fall (Vis. 11). A thicket of spiny twigs and red
fruit provides many landscape possibilities. Japanese
Barberry is useful for barrier planting and tolerates most
light exposures and soils, however, purple-leaved cultivars
turn green in shade. This shrub transplants easily and can
be sheared for use as a hedge plant. The main ornamental
features are persistent red fruits (Vis. 14) and fall color
in shades of red, orange and yellow (Vis. 12). Some strains
fruit more heavily than others. The yellow (Vis. 13),
flowers are not highly ornamental.

Cultivars:
'Anderson' (Lustre Green TM) - A compact plant with
emerald green leaves and a height and spread of 3 feet.
var. atropurpurea - A common landscape plant with
purple foliage all season. The red berries persist
into winter.
var. atropurpurea 'Bagatelle' - A 1- to 2 foot tall
plant with deep red foliage. Reported to be more
compact and uniform in habit than 'Crimson Pygmy.'
var. atropurpurea 'Bailone' (Ruby Carousel TM) - A low
rounded plant that has a height and spread of about 3
feet. The foliage is reddish-purple (Vis. 3).
var. atropurpurea 'Bailtwo' (Burgundy Carousel TM) -
The purple foliage is slightly larger and tends to
droop. The plants are 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
var. atropurpurea 'Concorde' - An 18-inch plant
producing deep purple foliage (Vis. 8).
var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pygmy' - A smaller cultivar
growing only 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The
foliage is purple all season (Vis. 9). A good plant
for use in foundation planting or as a low hedge.
var. atropurpurea 'Gentry's Cultivar' (Royal Burgundy TM)
(Plant Patent 9461) - A more compact form of 'Crimson
Pygmy' with dark purple foliage.
var. atropurpurea 'Golden Ring' - The leaves have
yellow margins surrounding a purple center. Requires
full sun for best leaf color. This 3 foot by 3 foot
plant also produces yellow flowers and red fruit.
var. 'Helmond Pillar' - An upright form with purple
leaves.
var. atropurpurea 'Marshall Red' - An upright form that
has purple leaves all season.
var. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow' - The older foliage is
maroon while the newer foliage is pink with dark
spots (Vis. 10). Requires full sun for best color.
var. atropurpurea 'Royal Cloak' - Large, purple leaves
are combined with an arching habit.
'Aurea' - Bright yellow foliage (Vis. 1) when grown in
full sun but greenish-yellow when shaded. The fall
color is orange.
'Aurea Nana' - A dwarf, 2- to 3 feet tall (Vis. 2) with
bright yellow foliage during the growing season and a
red fall color.
'Bailgreen' (Jade Carousel TM) - A rounded, compact form
with green foliage.
'Bogozam' (Bonanza Gold TM)(Plant Patent 8215) - This
compact form has yellow foliage and bright red fruit.
It reaches a height of 18 inches and will spread to 3
feet. The foliage is listed as being scorch resistant
(Vis. 4).
'Kobold' - A small plant that forms a mound 2 feet tall
and wide (Vis. 5). There are few flowers and fruits
and the fall color is yellow with red tints.
'Monlers' (Golden Nugget TM)(Plant Patent 9577) - A
dwarf, 12 inches tall and 15 inches wide (Vis. 6) with
yellow foliage that turns orange in autumn.
'Sparkle' - The glossy green foliage turns reddish-
purple in the fall. This hardy shrub (Vis. 7) produces
red fruits.
'Thornless' - A compact, rounded form that is
essentially thornless.

References for Cultivars: Lake County Nursery 1999, Bailey
Nurseries 1999, Weston Nurseries 1999, Iseli Nursery 1999,
Spring Meadow Nursery 1999, J. Frank Schmidt and Son 1999,
Monrovia Nursery Company 1997, Ray Wiegand's Nursery 1999,
Studebaker Nurseries 1999, Princeton Nurseries 1999,
Berryhill Nurseries 1999, Scarff's Nursery 1999, Gee Farms
1999, Midwest Groundcovers 1999, Willoway Nurseries 1999,
Carlton Plants 1999.


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