Redleaf Japanese Barberry

The beautiful Redleaf Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea) is flat-out gorgeous! Sometimes spelled two words - Red Leaf Barberry, the foliage is shaped like tiny, rounded teardrops in a deep crimson red. The longer you look at this shrub, the more it seems to glow from within. It is a show-stopper!

Barberries have an inner fire that is mesmerizing! This could be one of the prettiest foliage plants available! Very small yellow flowers feed the bees in the spring, but even if you do not notice them, your pollinators will! Then leaves intensify into deep red with an orange and yellow interior of the plant when fall begins to add a chill to the air. There is nothing like their lovely depth of color throughout the entire growing season!

Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 8, Redleaf Barberry grows into a 4-foot tall and wide rounded shrub. The flowers later develop into red berries in fall, and birds absolutely love them! But this is part of the reason, that in some areas Redleaf Barberry performs "too well".

Find out if you can safely grow these delightfully colorful shrubs in your community. Type in your zip code in our Hardiness Zone Finder, located above the Plant Highlights to find out, or contact your local County Extension Office. While it is true that while some Barberry cultivars are invasive in some areas, they may not be invasive in all areas. So Nature Hills has taken the initiative to develop our own compliance company called Plant Sentry™ so that you will not be able to even purchase a plant that your state has prohibited because of invasiveness, insects, or disease.

Plants may be available on our website, but if your state prohibits that plant from being shipped to you, the sale will not go through. And we have a full-time compliance officer that keeps those restrictions for all states current and up to date at all times. We are the only nursery selling plants online that is fully compliant according to each state's rules.    

Landscape Application:

In the right setting, these amazing accent shrubs work hard at being beautiful! Use a long row of them as a fantastic hedge. You'll see these used to punctuate points of transition in the landscape. Add one at the corner of your house, or repeat several along a curved or serpentine garden border.

If you are on a corner lot, you'll know that the struggle is real. This plant tells the neighborhood to "stay off the grass", but in a handsome way. Deer doesn't seem to like the experience of nibbling on Barberry. Use this as a barrier around your Victory Garden to keep the deer away.

Thorns are located along the branches, so you'll be able to direct traffic and protect your property with this variety. Redleaf Japanese Barberry makes a great deterrent under windows and at your property line. Just ensure you give at least five feet of room away from the sidewalk to avoid clothing getting snagged!

Living fences are less expensive than hardscaped, and they have the advantage of providing food for pollinators, and food and shelter for local songbirds.

Add them as a colorful hedge to jazz up the visual impact of mature evergreens or windbreaks. Create a solid screen by planting them two and a half feet apart on center. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

These plants work so well with Roses, Ornamental Grasses, Black Eyed Susan, Yucca Filamentosa, and smaller shrubs like Spirea. To be frank, just about any plant can partner with this one. A Bird's Nest Spruce looks wonderful planted in front, and slightly to one side of a Redleaf Barberry. Add decorative river rock mulch underneath and presto! You'll have an instant garden focal point.

Use these low-maintenance shrubs in commercial landscapes, too. That bold color will certainly catch the eye of passersby! Let your imagination run with these unique plants. They'll help you maximize the curb appeal of your home, business, or both!

• Scintillating Deep Crimson Foliage
• Leaves Turn Rich Red & Golden For Fall
• Densely Mounded Shrub - Graceful Branches Arch Up and Out
• Small Yellow Flowers Become Red Berries
• Butterflies & Birds Love These Beautiful Shrubs
• Thorns Make This a Great Barrier Hedge & Vibrant Accent All Growing Season
• Only Shipped into Compliant Areas

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Red-leafed Barberries develop the best color in full sun and well-drained soils for best results. The color just won't be as bright in partially shaded locations. Water it well after you unbox it and continue watering regularly the first year in the ground. Plant with Nature Hills Root Booster mixed into the last few inches of backfill soil to encourage roots with lifelong symbiotic, beneficial ingredients. We recommend you use the "Finger Test" while your plant is young. Keep your plant watered during each summertime. As you head into fall, give them a long drink before the cold winter sets in.

Pruning after flowering, or shear into a more formal shape. But little pruning is required unless you wish to change its shape or overall size. Wear thick, leather gloves before working with Barberry! In early spring, use a fertilizer formula for acid-loving plants according to label directions. Add a thick 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch, pine bark, or pine straw mulch over the root system, which will also help keep the soil slightly acidic and retain soil moisture.

• Full Sun For The Best Color (Part Shade/Afternoon Shade In Hot Climates)
• Slightly Acidic Well-Drained Soil
• Moderate to Low Moisture
• Prune After Flowering
• Very Cold Hardy
• Deer & Disease Resistant

You'll certainly appreciate the care taken by our expert growers! Order Redleaf Japanese Barberry from Nature Hills today. Have no fear when placing orders for professional-grade plant materials from Nature Hills. We've got you covered!