Japanese Barberry

(Berberis thunbergii)

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

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Berberis thunbergii Native Range
Native Range
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Climate Requirements

• Precipitation 51" - 51"
• High Temp. 69°F - 86°F
• Low Temp. 16°F - 33°F

Summary

Berberis thunbergii, commonly known as Japanese barberry, Thunberg’s barberry, or red barberry, is a deciduous shrub native to Japan. It typically grows to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide. In its native habitat, it thrives in open woodlands and along forest edges. The shrub has small, oval green leaves that turn a striking red in autumn, and it produces small, pale yellow flowers in spring which are moderately showy. By fall, it bears bright red berries that are attractive but can be invasive.

Japanese barberry is valued for its vibrant fall foliage and its use as an ornamental plant in various landscape settings. It is commonly used for hedging and as a barrier plant due to its thorns. This shrub is adaptable to a range of soil types, from well-drained to clay, and prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade. It is invasive across the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, where it reduces biodiversity and alters soil chemistry.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Height: 3-5 feet
  • Width: 4-7 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Hedges, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands and forest edges in Japan, invasive in North America

Other Names

Common Names: Thunberg’s Barberry, Japanese Berberis, Red Barberry, Hæk-Berberis, Thunbergs Berberitze, Thunberg-Berberitze, Epine-Vinette De Thunberg, Épine-Vinette Du Japon, Japanse Berberis, Häckberberis

Scientific Names: Berberis thunbergii, Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea, Berberis thunbergii subsp. atropurpurea, Berberis thunbergii var. minor, Berberis thunbergii var. maximowiczii, Berberis thunbergii var. pluriflora, Berberis thunbergii f. erecta, Berberis thunbergii var. uniflora, Berberis thunbergii var. rubrifolia, Berberis thunbergii f. grandiflora

GBIF Accepted Name: Berberis thunbergii DC.