Golden Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-BER-is thun-BER-jee-eye
- Description
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'Aurea' is a golden-leaved cultivar in the Berberidaceae (barberry) family. Barberries are native to Japan and are considered invasive in some parts of the eastern USA. The flowers are not showy but the yellow leaves and fruits are. These plants have thorns. This cultivar grows 4-5 feet tall and wide and is fairly slow-growing. It spreads by creeping roots and self-seeding.
'Aurea' does best in full sun and tolerates most soils except wet clay soil. It is deer and drought tolerant and has few problems. Use as a specimen, foundation planting, barrier or hedge. Please consider using a native plant instead.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- thunbergii
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Bird will eat the fruits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Bright red fruits in the fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy 1/2 inch pale yellow flowers bloom from late April to early May in short racemes along the stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Yellow leaves are up to 1.25 inches long and retain their color if given enough sun. Fall colors are red and orange. Simple leaves with entire margins that grow in clusters.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are angular and dark brown, bearing single spines.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Pool/Hardscape
- Slope/Bank
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
