Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Drought tolerant; tolerates range of soil types; tolerates urban conditions; seldom damaged by deer
Plant Profile: Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea
Names
Red Barberry
Phonetic Spelling:ber-BER-is thun-BER-jee-eye at-ro-pur-PUR-ee-ah
Genus:Berberis
Species:thunbergii
Family:Berberidaceae
This reliable shrub features a compact, rounded form with many branches, making it easy to relocate. It serves well as a specimen plant, for hedging, or as a barrier. The texture ranges from medium to fine. However, it does not thrive in overly wet conditions and can become quite invasive in eastern North America.
For additional details on Berberis thunbergii, please refer to further resources.
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Feature Summary
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Image Gallery
Tags
#red
#thorns
#deciduous
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#specimen
#shrub
#purple leaves
#yellow flowers
#weedy
#red leaves
#winter interest
#fall interest
#barrier
#high maintenance
#hedges
#cpp
#aggressive
#deer browsing plant
#spines
#urban conditions tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea is often confused with:
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Feature Summary
Attributes
Drought tolerant; tolerates range of soil types; tolerates urban conditions; seldom damaged by deer
Perennial
Woody
Fruit
This plant has .3-in., bright red fruit in fall and winter.
Berry
Red/Burgundy
Fall
Winter
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
This plant has small, yellow flowers tinged with purple.
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Leaves
This plant has alternate, simple, reddish to purplish leaves (best color in full sun). They are .5 to 1.3 in.-long and narrow at the base. Leaves are borne in clusters.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Deciduous
Rounded
Dense
High
Fine
Spines
Thorns
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
3 feet-6 feet
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Stem
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Winter Garden
Border
Hedge
Specimen
Barrier
Security
Drought
Deer
Urban Conditions
Weedy
Spines/Thorns
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Image Gallery
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Attributes
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Fruit
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Fruit Description
This plant has .3-in., bright red fruit in fall and winter.
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Flowers
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Flower Description
This plant has small, yellow flowers tinged with purple.
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Purple/Lavender
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Leaves
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Leaf Description
This plant has alternate, simple, reddish to purplish leaves (best color in full sun). They are .5 to 1.3 in.-long and narrow at the base. Leaves are borne in clusters.
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Whole Plant Traits
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Cultural Conditions
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Stem
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Landscape
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
