Crimson Pygmy barberry

Sun

Full sun for the strongest red foliage; tolerates partial shade, where leaves become greener.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; avoid persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay, loam or sand; tolerates a broad pH range but performs poorly in waterlogged ground.

Height

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Small, pale yellow flowers in spring, mostly hidden beneath the foliage.

Foliage

Small, rounded burgundy-red leaves on densely branched, spiny stems; autumn colour may become brighter red or orange before leaf fall.

Growth

Slow.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.7 ft (0.5 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.7 ft (0.51 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.7 ft (0.51 m)

5. After 5 years

   1.7 ft (0.52 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Invasive in

the US and Canada

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Slow

• Check local invasive-plant restrictions before buying or planting.
• Water deeply when the root zone begins to dry during the first growing season.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of mulch, keeping it clear of the stem bases.
• Avoid routine heavy feeding; use a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak.
• Wear thick gloves and keep spiny branches away from paths, play areas and frequently handled planting.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged or crossing stems and lightly shorten shoots that spoil the outline. Avoid repeated hard shearing, which creates a dense outer shell and hides the natural branching.

Late winter

Remove dead or crossing stems while the leafless framework is easy to see.

Spring

Plant where permitted, water thoroughly and mulch without burying the stem bases.

Late spring

Check new growth for aphids and remove small colonies with a firm spray of water.

Summer

Water young shrubs during dry weather; check that shaded plants are not losing their red colour.

Autumn

Where spread is a concern, remove berries before birds take them and pull nearby seedlings.

• Use as low burgundy edging in sunny borders where planting is permitted.
• Repeat small groups among green or silver foliage to create a strong colour contrast.
• Plant beneath taller shrubs in a sunny layered border, leaving room for its mature width.
• Use as an informal low hedge away from narrow paths and children's play spaces.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Traditional, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Low-maintenance and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: Catmint, Russian sage, Lamb's ears, Stonecrop, Blue fescue and Shrubby cinquefoil.

Wildlife: Flowers provide some food for visiting insects, and birds may eat the berries and disperse the seeds. In invaded woodlands, dense Japanese barberry stands displace native vegetation and can provide favourable conditions for ticks.

• Root rot in wet ground: improve drainage or move the plant; do not keep watering saturated soil.
• Powdery mildew: allow better airflow, avoid overcrowding and remove badly affected shoots.
• Aphids on soft growth: wash them off with water; use insecticidal soap if a persistent infestation damages growth.
• Green foliage or vigorous green shoots: provide more sun for generally dull colour, and remove clearly reverted green branches at their origin.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses. For people, roots and bark contain alkaloids that can cause stomach upset if swallowed; do not eat them. Berries are not generally considered poisonous, but are not recommended as food. The sharp spines can puncture skin.

Where it spreads. Japanese barberry spreads aggressively in the northeastern and midwestern United States and parts of eastern Canada, including southern Ontario. Sale or planting is restricted in several US states; cultivar exemptions vary. 'Crimson Pygmy' can produce viable seed, so its small size does not make it non-invasive.

• Red-leaved Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea)

  Has similar red-purple leaves and single spines, but grows into a substantially taller, more open shrub rather than a low mound.

• Concorde Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Concorde')

  Another dwarf purple-leaved cultivar, usually with darker foliage and a tight, rounded habit; young plants can be difficult to distinguish reliably without a label.

• Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

  Usually has toothed leaf margins, three-branched spines and longer hanging clusters of yellow flowers; Japanese barberry has smooth leaf margins and usually single spines.

The species name thunbergii honours Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg, while 'Crimson Pygmy' describes the cultivar's red foliage and dwarf growth.

Propagation. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer to preserve the cultivar. Seedlings do not reliably retain its dwarf habit or foliage colour and should not be encouraged where Japanese barberry is invasive.

Accepted botanical name

Berberis thunbergii

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Japan.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 7.2. Average height 145 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.