Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
- Height × spread
- 1.6m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Spring, Autumn
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A pretty shrub with an upright growth habit. It makes a very vertical, rather rigid clump for a number of years, but will fan out a little with age. The leaves are rounded and coloured yellow in spring and summer, turning a striking orange in autumn before leaf fall. Some of the leaves have red edges and the young stems are, likewise, often coloured a tangy red. The spring flowers form little creamy yellow bells, and are not very visible amongst the foliage. There are some red berries in autumn. Good grown in a group or as small accent points, perhaps on a raised bed.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Yellow
- Autumn foliage
- Orange
- Stem colour
- Red
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 1.6m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 1.2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Coloured stems, Architectural, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Deer
- May be browsed by deer, protect when young.
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, stems are prickly/thorny
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Prune after flowering
When the plant has flowered, cut all the flowered shoots back to healthy buds that are lower on the stems. When the plant is established, take out a quarter of the oldest branches to the ground at this time.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Found in
More Berberis
Berberis
Barberry
Berberis 'Golden Dream'
Barberry
Berberis candidula
Whitish barberry, Paleleaf barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis linearifolia 'Orange King'
Narrow-leaved berberis
Berberis microphylla 'Pygmaea'
Dwarf Magellan barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry