Berberidaceae
Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Also known as Berberis thunbergii var. rubrifolia, Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea, Berberis thunbergii f. erecta, Berberis thunbergii f. minor
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Shrub · Deciduous · Ornamental · Fall Color · Thorny · Hedge · Drought Tolerant · Wildlife Garden · Berries · Landscape
Thunberg's barberry is a tough, adaptable deciduous shrub that tolerates a wide range of soils and light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. It produces small yellow flowers in spring and bright red berries in fall that attract birds, along with stunning seasonal foliage color. Prune in late winter to maintain shape, and wear gloves as the stems are thorny.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply but allow soil to dry between waterings; established plants are fairly self-sufficient · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 8 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yellow
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Austria, Bulgaria, China North-Central, China Southeast, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ireland, Japan, Kansas, Kentucky, Korea
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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