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