Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
- Height × spread
- 0.3m – 4m × 0.3m – 3m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A versatile flowering shrub, loved for its foliage colour and wildlife friendly qualities. In spring small yellow bell-shaped blooms appear, attracting pollinators. Followed in autumn by red berries, loved by birds. The stems are prickly, the foliage comes in green as well as purple, red or orange. They range in size, from dwarf ones (30cm) for pots to large plants (1m+) for borders or hedging.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Brown, Cream, Gold, Green, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Silver, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Blue, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Dome, Fan, Round
- Height
- 0.3m – 4m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Rock garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Hedge, Ground cover, Screening, Structural, Coloured stems, Architectural, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
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.
Planting & general
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
Prune some varieties
Some plant varieties within this species have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant for pruning guidance.
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