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Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ber-BER-is thun-BER-jee-eye
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description

This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.

Japanse barberry is a dense, rounded shrub with numerous branches. It easy to transplant and dislikes wet feet. This plant has a medium to a fine texture. This plant is intolerant of high heat loads and is semideciduous in the south. When birds eat its berries, the plant's seeds are spread, generally growing in shaded woodlands, wetlands, and fields.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Stems with only a single spine at each node 
  • Fruit bright red berry often persisting in winter
  • Red and green-leafed varieties
  • Leaves deciduous, obovate to spatulate, entire

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is a noxious weed or invasive in some states and is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. Having spines on its stems could be an issue for children but also for trash getting caught on the spines through the wind. With all this said, this plant does not have serious pest problems. Anthracnose, root rot, bacterial leaf spot, wilt, scale, barberry webworm, and aphids are some problems that this plant may struggle with. See native alternatives to the left.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Floricyle Xeriscape Garden for a Dry, Sunny Site
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Aurea', 'Crimson Pygymy', 'Gold Pillar', 'Orange Rocket', var. atropurpurea
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#invasive#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#wetlands#high maintenance#deer browsing plant#dye plant#deer resistant#fields#red fruits#pollinator plant#fantz#urban conditions tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#winter fruits#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Aurea', 'Crimson Pygymy', 'Gold Pillar', 'Orange Rocket', var. atropurpurea
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#invasive#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#wetlands#high maintenance#deer browsing plant#dye plant#deer resistant#fields#red fruits#pollinator plant#fantz#urban conditions tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant#winter fruits#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Berberis
    Species:
    thunbergii
    Family:
    Berberidaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Settlers used this plant to make dye.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia (Japan)
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds eat theĀ berries.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    some shade, heat, drought, urban conditions, range of soil types, erosion, slightly salt tolerant; seldom damaged by deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Oval
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • 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)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    This plant has 0.3"-1", bright, and glossy red berries in the fall. Persisting into winter, this is an ellipsoidal berry.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    This plant has 0.3- to 0.5-in., pale yellow flowers in late spring (April to May) that are often hidden under the foliage growing in racemes. The drooping inflorescence has a subumbellate arrangement, is grouped in sets of 2-5, is weakly fetid, and has pedicels.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    This plant has alternate, simple, and bright green leaves that are 0.5 to 1.3 in. long. Growing in the spine axil, the leaves are narrow at the base. The leaves have bright red to orange fall color. Other colors that the leave may be are foliage green, variegated, reddish-purple, and yellowish. Clustered on dwarf shoots, the leaves are obovate to spatulate-oblong in shape with entire margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Smooth/Hairless
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Description:
    Numerous angular dark brown stems with slightly curved spines. Older stems are gray and twigs and young stems turn reddish brown in winter. Inner bark yellow.
  • Landscape:
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heat
    Salt
    Urban Conditions
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Problem for Children
    Spines/Thorns
    Weedy