Red Barberry Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-BER-is thun-BER-jee-eye at-ro-pur-PUR-ee-ah
- Description
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This dependable plant is a rounded, dense shrub with numerous branches and is easy to transplant. It can be used for a specimen, hedge or as barrier planting. Its texture is medium to fine. This plant dislikes wet feet and it can be quite aggresive and weedy in eastern North America.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Children's Secret Garden- Wilson Botanical Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Admiration'
- 'Bagatelle'
- 'Bailtwo'
- 'Admiration'
- 'Admiration', 'Bagatelle', 'Bailtwo'
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Admiration'
- 'Bagatelle'
- 'Bailtwo'
- 'Admiration'
- 'Admiration', 'Bagatelle', 'Bailtwo'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- thunbergii
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant; tolerates range of soil types; tolerates urban conditions; seldom damaged by deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
- Appendage:
- Spines
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has .3-in., bright red fruit in fall and winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Description:
- This plant has small, yellow flowers tinged with purple.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has alternate, simple, reddish to purplish leaves (best color in full sun). They are .5 to 1.3 in.-long and narrow at the base. Leaves are borne in clusters.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Security
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy