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Felder Rushing
Berberidaceae
BERBERIS thunbergii
Japanese Barberry
Japanese barberry is a dense, upright multi-stemmed shrub that is native to eastern Asia and Japan. Its glossy bright green leaves turn orange, scarlet and/or red-purple in the fall. Bright red berries, which are attractive to birds, appear in late summer to fall and persist into winter. There are many cultivars of Japanese barberry such as the golden-leaved 'Aurea' and dwarf purple-leaved 'Bagatelle'. This shrub has been known to self-sow. Thorny, but still suitable for hedges and barriers, it also makes a nice accent plant. This is a tough, sun-loving plant that is tolerant of many soil types and sites.
Berberis thunbergii is sometimes considered an invasive plant particularly in the northeastern United States. It can form dense thickets in natural areas where it changes soil characteristics and displaces wildlife. For more information about the invasiveness of barberry see the National Park Service’s factsheet at http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/beth1.htm. Also, some species and cultivars of barberry host the plant disease black stem-rust of wheat which causes serious losses in wheat yield. The sale or transport of susceptible or untested species may be prohibited in some parts of the United States and Canada. For more information about the disease see the United States Department of Agriculture factsheet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/barberry/background.shtml
8 - 5
4 - 8
A3, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Shrub
Full Sun, Partial Sun
3'-6' / 0.9m - 1.8m
4'-7' / 1.2m - 2.1m
Spring, Late Spring
Eastern Asia, Japan
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Medium
Oval/Rounded
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Insignificant
Yellow, Yellow Green
Red, Crimson, Dark Red
Light Green
Green
Purple, Orange, Burgundy, Crimson
Brown
No
Single
Yes
Matte
Smooth
Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Sometimes
Birds
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