Low-maintenance shrubs make an excellent addition to your landscaping by reducing the time you spend taking care of them throughout the season. Surprisingly, low maintenance doesn’t always mean you’re stuck with dull, green shrubs that look like every other hedge up and down your block.
If you’re looking for a brilliantly-colored, low-needs landscape shrub, look no further than the beautiful barberry!
Barberry bushes are members of the Berberis genus and come in about 450 species. Some are deciduous plants, and others are evergreen. These woody shrubs offer bold fall colors and spring flowers and grow naturally worldwide. Many, but not all, barberries have sharp thorns on their stems.
Barberries are typically chosen as landscape plants for their bright, colorful foliage that adorns graceful arching stems. Many species have simple green leaves through the spring and summer, but when fall rolls around, this unassuming shrub takes center stage as the leaves change to brilliant shades of orange, crimson, and yellow.
It has been said the shrubs almost appear as if they’ve been illuminated from within by burning embers!
Recently, new varieties have been introduced with colorful foliage in yellows, season-long crimson, and variegated leaves. Selective breeding has also improved the overall growth habit, keeping plants tidier to maintain an excellent shape with minimal pruning.
Why is Barberry Popular As a Landscape Plant?
With over 450 species available, barberry can be roughly categorized into different groups. Some popular ones include common barberry, Japanese barberry, wintergreen barberry, warty barberry, and mentor barberry.
Common barberry is native to Asia and was brought to North America by early New England settlers in the 1600s. Plants are deciduous and widely distributed throughout the Northern US states.
Japanese barberry is a woody perennial shrub that can be either deciduous or evergreen, depending on the variety. Native to Japan, it was first introduced in 1875 as an ornamental plant in the United States.
Wintergreen barberry is a very cold-hardy, evergreen type native to central China. Plants make a great screen or barrier as they grow densely and are particularly resistant to deer.
Warty barberry is native to western China and known for its spiny-toothed evergreen leaves and knobby branches.
A hybrid of Japanese and wintergreen barberries, the mento barberry is deciduous in colder climates but may grow as an evergreen in warmer areas.
Barberries tolerate many soil types and growing conditions but grow best in well-drained soil, in full sun to part shade. At a minimum, they like four to six hours of sunlight daily. Once established, they can tolerate short periods of drought and withstand air pollution. They don’t need regular maintenance but appreciate a light dose of fertilizer in the spring and occasional pruning to keep their shade.
They do not like soil that lacks proper drainage and stays waterlogged.
Deep crimson leaves open in the spring with a slight bronze tinge and transition to a brilliant red color in the fall. Crimson Pygmy barberry plants hold their aesthetic after the leaves drop as bright red berries adorn the spiny stems. A compact, rounded growth habit makes it perfect for creating stunning hedges or barriers.
Dark purple foliage gives way to small, yellow flowers in April and May. The fountain-like form of ‘Dart’s Red Lady’ barberry transitions into shining red in fall with bright red berries that last through the winter.
Deciduous leaves on the 'Orange Rocket' barberry emerge coral-orange, age to medium green, and then deepen to ruby red in fall. Columnar, upright growth makes it an excellent choice for containers.
Deep rose-red colored foliage is mottled with tinges of white and green in the spring. Bight red berries adorn the upright branches in fall and winter. Rose glow barberry appears more vibrant the more sun it gets.
A new, compact variety with attractive golden foliage that maintains an orange hue most of the season. Yellow spring flowers and bright red fruits on Sunsation barberries provide additional interest to the landscape.
Our mission at Providence Nursery is to enrich the world by cultivating beautiful plants. Our farm is situated in the prime Willamette Valley—one of the best growing regions in the country—allowing us to grow the healthiest and happiest plants you’ll find anywhere.
If you’re interested in ordering barberry plants from our team, we’d love to help. Explore our available barberry plants for sale, and contact us to get started or with any questions!
