Japanese Barberry

Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii

Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)

▲ ▼ culivar 'Aurea' with yellow leaves in full sun

▲ ▼ common red-purple-leaved form

Location on campus: near sign at southeast corner of campus at Grand and National, plus many other areas on campus

Berberis thunbergii: Japanese Barberry

• mostly deciduous, medium green colored, simple, alternate, obovate leaves with mostly entire margins (occasional spine at leaf tip)
• leaves about 1/2-1" long and 1/2 as wide; leaves appear in clusters at nodes, but are not whorled, are alternate
• color of leaves can vary with variety and cultivar:
  • var. atropurpurea has reddish leaves
  • cultivar ‘Aurea’ has yellowish leaves
• are many cultivars of the species
• stem is thin, reddish-brown and angled or grooved with single spines about 1/2" long at each node
• grows 3-6' high and 4-7' wide, depending on cultivar
• flowers not significant
• prefers full sun, but will grow in part shade; tolerates wide range of soils, including very dry-- a low-maintenance plant once established
• medium growth rate