Berberis thunbergii

Habit

Thorny, impenetrable normal shrub with many shoots, 1.5-2 (3) m tall and wide, initially stiffly upright to funnel-shaped, moderately growing.

Flowers

Light yellow in masses, almost covered by foliage, May.

Fruits

Shiny light red from September on, often into spring, edible, juicy and sour.

Leaves

Early shoots, April; ovoid, light green, splendid orange to scarlet from September on, only yellow in the shade.

Demands

Full sun to slightly shady; tolerates urban pollution, frost hardy; wind resistant, takes well to cutting.

Soil

Well drained, slightly acidic to neutral substrates; moderately dry to fresh.

Hardiness

Zone 4

Overview of varieties of Berberis thunbergii

Variety	Habit / Hardiness	Size in m H: Height W: Width	Leaf colour	Other
'Atropurpurea'	Normal shrub, initially stiffly upright, later broadly round, funnel-shaped; Zone 4	H: 2-3 W: 2-3	brown, red to crimson-red; most intense colours during shooting	bright orange-carmine in autumn; plentiful fruits, shiny red
'Atropurpurea Nana'	Small shrub, domed, thick shoots, very slow-growing; Zone 5	H: 0.5-0.6 W: 0.5-1	initially black-red, then deep brown-red	bright red autumn colours
'Bagatelle'	Dwarf shrub, flatly round, very dense twigs; Zone 6	H: 0.3-0.4 W: 0.4-0.6	intense crimson-red or black-red	intense red in autumn
'Green Carpet'	Small shrub, densely bushy, upright, gradually becoming extended, arching; Zone 6a	H: 1 W: 1.2-1.7	light green	yellow-orange autumn colours; fruits pink-red
'Green Ornament'	Slender upright, densely bushy; Zone 6b	H: 1.7 W: 1	shoots bronze-green, then dark green	reddish yellow autumn colours; plentiful fruits, shiny red
'Kobold'	Dwarf shrub, domed, compact; Zone 6a	H: 0.4-0.5 W: 0.4-0.5	fresh green	bright yellow-orange to scarlet in autumn; fruits pink-red
'Red Chief'	Normal shrub, initially stiffly upright, later arching, funnel-shaped; Zone 6a	H: 1.5-2.5 W: 1.5-2	shoots dark red, later brown	red or crimson-orange in autumn; few fruits