Berberis thunbergii Sunjoy® Group Play pronunciation

The Sunjoy® group of cultivars of Japanese barberry were developed by Dr. Tom Ranney at NC State. They are members of the barberry family (Berberidaceae) bred and selected for sterility. They do not self-seed and become weedy, as regular Japanese barberry does. 

Plant in the full sun to light shade, in average to dry well well-drained soils. These cultivars tolerate a wide range of soil types, including clay as long as they are well-drained. They are resistant to browsing by deer and are drought- and air pollution-tolerant.

The foliage on these cultivars often emerges a brighter color before maturing to the final color. In some, the mature leaves may have a green or chartreuse margin. The yellow fragrant flowers hang down from the branches. Stand out red-orange leaves appear in the fall and showy red fruits last through the fall and winter months. The fruits do not have fertile seeds. These cultivars were bred and selected specifically to be less of a threat to natural vegetation. 

Depending on the cultivar, they may be used for low border hedges, accents or specimens. Use them in an Asian, cottage, winter, formal or drought-tolerant garden.

Insect, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Anthracnose, root rot, bacterial leaf spot, wilt, Indian wax scale, two-banded Japanese weevil, barberry webworm and aphids are some problems that may damage barberry.

More information on Berberis thunbergii.