It also has sharp thorns and red, oblong berries that last well into the colder months.
It grows best when planted in the fall, late winter, or after flowering in the spring.
It prefers full sun and well-draining soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It’s drought and cold-tolerant, although it could use some sheltering from strong winds.
It’s listed asinvasivein 20 states in the Midwest and the eastern United States.
Japanese barberry is mildly toxic to humans.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
These shrubs have a rounded growth habit and are fully grown when 5 to 6 feet tall and wide.
The shrubs have a slow or average growth rate, gaining about 1 to 2 feet annually.
This shrub sports green leaves and pale yellow flowers that bloom in mid spring.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The leaves turn beautiful autumnal colors before their deciduous leaves drop in the fall.
Its sharp thorns are a deterrent for deer.
Check with local experts before planting this species in your area.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you plant it, it’s best to keep it isolated from native plants and control its spread.
Research also shows that this invasive plant provides a prime environment for deer ticks that spread Lyme Disease.
Light
Japanese barberry grows best infull sun.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But it can tolerate someshade, especially at the warmer end of its growing zones.
Around seven hours of sunlight daily is ideal for bright, lush foliage.
Soil
This shrub readily grows in average soil.
It can tolerate a range of soil conditions as long as there is good drainage.
Soggy soil can cause root rot.
Give a newly planted shrub regular watering to maintain slight moisture in the soil during its first growing season.
It has good cold tolerance but prefers to be sheltered from strong winds.
It can struggle in sweltering and humid conditions.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing Japanese barberry is generally not necessary unless you have very poor soil.
Types of Japanese Barberry
Severalcultivarsof Japanese barberry vary in size, shape, and appearance.
Some have an upright and rounded growth habit, while others tend to spread out or remain relatively small.
Plus, some shrubs feature striking foliage colors besides the typical green.
Pruning generally isn’t essential for Japanese barberry shrubs.
Extensive pruning should occur immediately after the spring or early summer shrub flowers.
When working with a Japanese barberry shrub, wearglovesto protect yourself from the plant’s extremely sharp thorns.
Take cuttings in the spring after the flowers have faded.
you could also take semi-hardwood cuttings in the summer.
The tiny red berries contain small seeds that can be planted in almost any growing medium.
However, it can be prone to damage from strong winter winds.
Consider sheltering it or wrapping burlap material around wooden stakes to protect it from windburn.
Dislodge large infestations of aphids with a high-pressure garden hose spray.
Although Lyme disease ticks don’t invade Japanese barberry, they are attracted to it as home.
Ticks die when humidity levels drop below 80 percent and do not rise back up.
Diseases that can afflict the plant includepowdery mildew,verticillium wilt,anthracnose, and bacterial leaf spots.
Use fungicides for most problems, but note that wilt may be irreversible and cause the shrub to die.
Still, they announce the coming of bright red berries with distinct winter appeal.
Severe pruning early in the growing season can also temporarily halt flower production.
Sudden Death
This plant’s roots are intolerant of too much fluctuation in moisture.
Japanese barberry is not immune to dog urine burn, discoloring Japanese barberry foliage and killing low branches.
Keep them well away from pathways to avoid injury to passers-by.
Barberry shrubs are also effective for erosion control and are among the mostdeer-resistant shrubs.
Systematically dig up or kill the volunteer plants using a brush-killing herbicide.
It may take a few months to destroy all remnants of the plant.
Individual stems, however, may become woody and overgrown and cease to produce flowers and fruit.
Periodically removing these old stems will keep the plant vibrant.
A major appeal of this plant is the berries that attract birds during the winter.
Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants.
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States from the University of Georgia and the National Park Service.
2017;46(6):1329-1338.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
