Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Japanese barberry:
Previously known as:
- Beerberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pygmy'
- Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Beauty’
- Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy' ('Atropurpurea Nana')
- Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana'
- Berberis thunbergii 'Little Beauty'
- Berberis thunbergii 'Little Favourite'
- Berberis thunbergii 'Little Gem'
- Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pigmy'
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-BER-is thun-BER-jee-eye
- Description
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'Crimson Pygmy' is the most popular form of Berberis thunbergii due to its beautiful leaves and compact mounded habit. It is fairly pest-free, easy to grow and easy to care for. This plant is currently a popular dwarf selection.
Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society: Award of Good Merit
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: While not many major problems occur with this plant, be aware of the spiny stems and the following potential susceptibilities: root rots, aphids, scale, wilt, barberry webworm, anthracnose, and bacterial leaf spot. It can be affected by powdery mildew.
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 landscapes:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border Walkway Garden Paver Pathway
- 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:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Berries attract birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- urban conditions; heat; erosion; range of soil types, except wet; seldom damaged by deer; drought; pollution
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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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:
- This plant has .2-in., red, oval berries in summer that persist into winter. Berries attract birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has waxy, pale yellow to orange to red flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has alternate, simple, deep crimson leaves with bronze tinge. Leaves are .5 to .7 in.-long (though can reach 1.25 inches long) and can be greenish-red when grown in shade. This plant has a single spine at each node.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Some stems are brittle. Thorns are attached to the stem.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heat
- Pollution
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
