Growing the Pow-wow Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Pow-wow Barberry is a small deciduous shrub forming a narrow column of upright branches two or three feet tall and a foot or two wide. The stems are covered with leaves from top to bottom – on new growth they are evenly spaced along the stem and on older stems they grow from very short side-stems called ‘spurs’, that carry clusters of leaves. The stems are studded with short, sharp spines. The small leaves are almost circular, and no more than an inch across. In spring the leaves are golden yellow to yellow-green, edged in red and the new stems are orange-red. A plant at this time is a glowing golden column. As the leaves mature they turn chartreuse green to mid-green, and many of them are mottled with white areas, giving a bright summer effect. When the cooler nights of fall arrive the whole bush turns brilliant orange-red, really shining out across the garden.

Clusters of golden flowers form in early spring. They nestle among the new leaves, In spring, so they are relatively inconspicuous and might be missed. By late summer they have become bright red berries. These are often only noticed once the leaves fall, but they make a great show in late fall, before birds take them. If you live in states or areas where there is a danger of seeds being carried into wild areas. Take a look at our full range of varieties – we have many that don’t produce seeds and so don’t spread at all.

Using the Pow-wow Barberry in Your Garden

With its slender bushy form the Pow-wow Barberry is ideal for short hedges, perhaps along paths and driveways, but it also makes an excellent accent plant in a shrub bed. For hedges, space plants 12 inches apart in an evenly-spaced row. This plant can be grown on slopes and among rocks and boulders, and in hot, dry areas where it is hard to find suitable plants. With its sharp spines it is a great barrier against intruders – both four-legged and two-legged. Plant it beneath windows and along fences, where it will repel all but the most determined.

Hardiness

The Pow-wow Barberry is hardy in zone 3, so it’s a great choice for cold zones. It also grows well even in zone 8, with heat and humidity – a true plant for all across the country.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The best location for the Pow-wow Barberry is in full sun, as shade will reduce the bright colors in all seasons. It grows easily in all well-drained soils, including poor soils and sandy, dry areas. It tolerates urban soils too, and grows almost anywhere. It resists salt spray and urban pollution, so it’s ideal for tough urban gardens.

Maintenance and Pruning

You need to do very little to maintain the Pow-wow Barberry. Pests, diseases and deer don’t bother it, and once established it will grow without additional watering in most places. You don’t need to trim, but if you do, it can be trimmed at any time, although in late spring, after the first flush of new growth has matured, is probably best. It can be trimmed again in late summer if wanted.

History and Origin of the Pow-wow Barberry

The Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, grows naturally in rocky places and mountains in both Japan and China. The first plants were brought to America by collectors from the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University in Boston, in 1875. Those first wild plants had green leaves, and were enjoyed mostly for their golden flowers and red berries. It wasn’t long before variations in leaf color began to appear among seedlings, and since then many varieties have been created. Sadly it seems that no-one kept a record of where the variety called Pow-wow was discovered, so we have no-one to thank for this great plant.

Buying the Pow-wow Barberry at the Tree Center

Named varieties like this one are reproduced from stem pieces, so every plant is genetically identical to that original Pow-wow. This is exactly the value in buying named varieties – you know exactly how they will turn out, making uniform hedges easy. This bright and always changing variety is sure to spark up your garden, so order now, while we still have plants available.

The sale of Japanese Barberry varieties that produce seeds in banned in Maine, New York State, and Minnesota. Other states have placed restrictions. Although we attempt to stay up to date on each states’ Department of Agriculture regulations, rules can vary, and change rapidly. This link will show you the situation in your own state, and remember that barberry is not a problem in many states and can be grown without concern. Check our site for non-seeding varieties of Barberry, as many are available. These are not restricted by most states, as they cannot spread.

Growing the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry is a compact deciduous shrub, growing 3 or 4 inches a year, and producing a bushy, dense shrub with many branches, growing 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. The stems are flexible and strong, never breaking under snow. The leaves grow evenly along young stems, and in clusters on older ones, keeping bushes dense, with leaves throughout their branches. The leaves are smooth and rounded ovals, up to 1 inch long, and from the time they first emerge, until the drop in fall they maintain a rich, dark maroon-purple coloring, with no greening during the summer months, even in hot areas. At the base of each leaf cluster is a short, sharp spine, which makes a row of barberry virtually impenetrable to four or two-legged intruders.

In spring, while the new leaves are still small, clusters of 3 to 8 bright-yellow flowers form all along the stems. A single bush can carry 1,000 of these bright blossoms, and they add a cheerful and colorful touch, nestling among the purple leaves, for about 2 weeks. In ordinary barberry, these blooms would develop into seed-filled red fruits, but in this specially-bred barberry fruits are almost never produced, and any that are while lack viable seeds.

Using the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry in Your Garden

This great compact little shrub is perfect for planting in the front of your shrub beds. With leaves right to the ground it fills spaces all by itself. Plant it alone, in clusters or in rows as edging. Space grouped plants up to 18 inches apart for a solid drift of purple, or a great informal hedge that needs no clipping. You can also trim established hedges once a year for a super-neat look. Plant it on slopes, in the narrow beds of terraced walls, among rocks, and anywhere where you want bright color. It can also be used in planters and pots. It contrasts well with other barberry bushes – those with golden foliage, for example.

Hardiness

Very resistant to cold, yet also enjoying lots of sun and heat, the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry is completely hardy all the way from zone 4 to zone 8. Plants in boxes and pots can be left outdoors all year round in zones 6, 7 and 8. In colder zones, bury pots or remove the plants and place them temporarily in garden beds.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is needed by the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry to keep it vigorous and to keep the foliage color at its brightest. More than an hour or two of shade each day is not desirable. As for soil, any well-drained earth, including drier sands and gravels, as well as clays and urban soils, are suitable – just avoid wet areas.

Maintenance and Pruning

The Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry is untroubled by pests or diseases, and left alone by deer and rabbits, who are repelled by the spiny stems. This plant remains neat and compact, really not needing any trimming at all. If you want to keep a very neat hedge, trim in early spring, just before the new leaves emerge. Even in fall, when the leaves fall, they are small and just disappear – nothing to rake.

History and Origin of the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry

Barberry, Berberis thunbergii, has been grown in our gardens since it was first introduced in 1875 from Japan by plant collectors with the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Those first plants were tall, with green leaves, but popular for their yellow flowers and red berries. The first purple-leaf forms appeared in France before 1900. Since then purple-leaf forms have been always the most popular, so it was natural for Dr. Thomas Ranney, of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, to launch his quest for seedless barberry plants with plants of that color. He began in 2005 by crossing together two different seedlings of Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea, the ‘natural’ purple-leaf form. To improve the chances of growing unique plants, he treated the seeds with ethyl methanesulfonate, a chemical that accelerates the number of changes when cells divide. He sprouted the seeds, and from among the seedlings he selected one for further study. After extensive trials and tests, he knew he had a compact, bushy plant with excellent foliage color, but one that wouldn’t produce seeds. Careful tests showed it was 98.8% to 100% sterile. He named it ‘NCBT1’ and received a patent for it, to benefit the University, in 2019. It was released the same year by Spring Meadows Nurseries, as part of their Proven Winners® range. They registered the trademark name, Sunjoy Mini Maroon®, for it, adding it to their SUNJOY® range of exciting, colorful barberry bushes.

Buying the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry at the Tree Center

Unable to produce seeds, the Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry is a winner all across the country. Now you can bring barberry back into your garden without concerns about your local environment, and enjoy those rich purple leaves on compact plants that need no trimming or significant care of any kind. Order now – this new release is taking the gardening world by storm – and then sit back, relax and enjoy the sun, you deserve it.

Growing the Golden Torch Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Golden Torch Barberry is a dense, upright deciduous shrub of moderate growth, with vertical branches that forms a slender plant 3 to 4 feet tall and no more than 2 feet wide, even if never trimmed. The light-brown stems have short but sharp prickles on them, making it an excellent deterrent to both two and four-legged intruders. Planting Barberry beneath windows is an excellent deterrent to break-ins. In spring new leaves grow, both along new stems and in clusters on old stems, so it is always dense and leafy. The leaves are more-or-less round in shape, and they are glossy and smooth. They vary in size but will rarely be more than one-inch long, and usually smaller. They are dense and numerous, so this plant has a terrific bushy look to it. New spring leaves are bright orange, really brightening your garden when in its fresh, clean, spring mode. They soon mature to a pure and perfect golden yellow, and this color persists throughout the summer. The young stems remain dark orange, making a nice contrast. When cooler fall weather arrives the leaves then turn fascinating shades of light orange that we have almost never seen in barberry – very cool.

Using the Golden Torch Barberry in Your Garden

Think of the Golden Torch Barberry as a brush dripping with yellow paint. Stripe it into your garden picture and hey presto! – brightness and color wherever you need it most. Plant it singly in smaller beds, in clusters of 3, 5, or more, or in mass planting in larger beds. With its slender, upright form it is also ideal for screening up to 4 feet tall, such as planting below windows, or for making a hedge that needs very little trimming. Space plants 12” to 18” apart for this – it will grow into a solid, continuous hedge. Grow it in hot, dry places to brighten them, and plant it on slopes and banks, or among rocks and gravel. Everywhere you put it, this plant is going to look great.

Hardiness

The Golden Torch Barberry is very cold-resistant, and it survives winters in zone 3 without any winter-kill. It grows too in all warmer zones, only finding the heat and humidity of zone 9 in the southeast too much.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

For the best leaf colors, grow the Golden Torch Barberry in full sun. It will grow fine in partial shade too, but the summer colors will be more chartreuse, and the fall colors not as strong. It grows well even in poor soil, and in any kind of soil, from sand to clay, as long as it is well-drained. Avoid wet places, especially ones wet in winter, and once your plant is well-established it will take long periods of dryness without any problems.

Maintenance and Pruning

Very little attention is needed to grow the Golden Torch Barberry successfully. Water weekly while it is new, but then it needs nothing more. A little shrub fertilizer in spring will work wonders in poor soil, and some compost as mulch is always welcome, but not essential. You can trim as needed for very tight geometry, or just let it grow naturally – it will still be neat and upright. Trim anytime except fall, as new growth could be damaged by cold. Pests or diseases are very rare, and both deer and rabbits leave it alone.

History and Origin of the Golden Torch Barberry

Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, is a shrub that grows naturally in Japan and China. It was introduced into America in 1875 by the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, but it had arrived as seeds in France earlier, around 1860. It was in France too that the first colored-leaf forms arose, and it is to France again that we need to go to find the origin of the Golden Torch Barberry. Jean-Pierre Hennebelle has a nursery in Boubers-sur-Canche, in northern France. He is a keen plant breeder and he discovered, probably as a seedling, the variety he named ‘Faisceau doré’. That literally translates as “beam of golden light”, so when the McKay Nursery Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin decided to introduce it to America they registered the trademark name Golden Torch® for it, in 2008. That registration was canceled in 2016, so now we can all simply use Golden Torch as a useful common name for this great plant.

Buying the Golden Torch Barberry at the Tree Center

We love the brilliance of this great new barberry, and we are sure it is going to be a big favorite. The different colors through the seasons make it always interesting, and the clear golden coloring is simply wonderful in summer. It will be a great addition to your garden, but we have a limited number of plants, so be sure to order right away, or we can’t guarantee to be able to send them, and that would be a pity.

The sale of Japanese Barberry varieties that produce seeds is banned in Maine, New York State, and Minnesota. Other states have placed restrictions. Although we attempt to stay up to date on each states’ Department of Agriculture regulations, rules can vary, and change rapidly. This link will show you the situation in your own state and remember that barberry is not a problem in many states. Check our site for non-seeding varieties of Barberry, as many are available. These are not restricted by most states, as they cannot spread.

There is no doubt that the modern barberry is light-years away from the original. From a tall, spiny green bush with yellow flowers and red berries that have a nasty habit of spreading around the neighborhood, we have moved to compact colorful bushes in a whole range of leaf colors, from purple to pale yellow. Plus, most modern forms produce no seeds, so they can’t spread. We used to clip them regularly for low edging, but the best of today’s plants are vigorous but naturally dwarf, so clipping is hardly ever needed. For the perfect modern, non-seeding variety, look no further than the Golden Ruby® Barberry – actually, it’s so colorful and eye-catching you won’t be able to look further. This natural dwarf is perfect for filling small spaces and ideal for a bright edging. We do mean bright, because this little charmer combines orange leaves in spring with red and gold summer foliage, ending with a fall splash of vibrant orange and brick-red. Talk about a little winner!

Growing the Golden Ruby® Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Golden Ruby® Barberry is a dwarf deciduous shrub that typically grows 15 to 18 inches tall, but could become a little taller in time. It spreads wider, reaching as much as 30 inches across. It has vigorous growth, but the spaces between the leaves on the stem are very short, so it grows densely, with short, bushy shoots. This means it stays short and only rarely needs trimming. The smooth, rounded leaves are up to an inch long, and when new in spring they are a glowing orange-red, darkening to a deeper red as they mature. As summer develops an interesting thing happens. A thin line of pale yellow begins to appear around the edges of the leaves, widening with time, so that by the end of summer the bush has a pronounced variegated look, with dark red leaves and golden edges. Then, with the colder weather of fall the color changes again, becoming bright orange to brick-red and making a colorful splash before the garden goes to sleep.

In spring, among the new leaves, you might see a few clusters of small bright-yellow flowers, but these do not form the usual berries, and no seeds are produced. That means this plant is safe to grow anywhere, and cannot escape your garden to become a problem plant in wild areas.

Using the Golden Ruby® Barberry in Your Garden

For adding a colorful edging to your beds this plant is ideal, It can be spaced 12 to 18 inches apart and it will give a solid line within a few years. Little or no trimming will be needed for it to stay small and always attractive. You can also grow it tucked into pockets among rocks, or on the levels of retaining walls. Plant it alone or in clusters among other small shrubs, or use it in planter boxes and pots – it will look great everywhere in your garden.

Hardiness

Despite its small size the Golden Ruby Barberry is reliably hardy even in zone 3, and it grows well through all other zones, including zone 8.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is needed to keep the colors bright, but it will grow in some light partial shade, looking a little more greenish. It grows vigorously in all well-drained soils, including tough urban soils, clays and gravels, and just about anywhere that isn’t always wet. It resists salt spray and urban air pollution too, so its ideal for inner city gardens.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests, diseases and deer all leave this tough shrub alone, and it needs virtually no attention to do its thing superbly. It stays naturally dwarf, but a light trim in early spring, before the new leaves appear, will keep it always immaculate.

History and Origin of the Golden Ruby® Barberry

Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, is a shrub that is native to Japan and China. The Arnold Arboretum, Boston, introduced into America in 1875, and although those early forms had green leaves, it very soon became popular in gardens. It wasn’t long before seedlings with purple leaves were found, and in 1942 the Van Eyck Nursery, in Boskoop, the Netherlands, found one that was also small, the variety we know as ‘Atropurpurea Nana’.

Moving forward, James Zampini was a prominent nurseryman and breeder who owned Lake County Nursery, in Perry, Ohio. A neighboring nurseryman, Nicholas Moretti, found a dwarf variety with golden yellow leaves in 1971, and he passed it on to Mr. Zampini, who patented it as ‘Bogozam’ and sold it as the Bonanza Gold® Barberry. Since the patent expired in 2013 it can also be found with the name, Golden Treasure. In 1978 Mr. Zampini used pollen from Bonanza Gold on a plant of ‘Atropurpurea Nana’, and among the seedlings he found something special. He eventually patented his find in 2008, after years of trials and testing, as ‘Goruzam’. Today it is made available by his daughter, Maria, as a Lake County Nursery Selection, with the trademarked name of Golden Ruby®.

Buying the Golden Ruby® Barberry at the Tree Center

Every one of these great little plants is reproduced from small stem pieces, so it is 100% identical to that original seedling. These kinds of unique plants can never be grown from seeds – and of course this one doesn’t even produce them. Everyone wants to grow colorful barberry bushes, for their all-season color and toughness, so order your plants now, because they will all be gone very soon.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

We have grown used to seeing barberry bushes in a rainbow of colors from golds and yellows, through oranges and reds to purples. So it comes as a bit of a surprise to see the Kobold Barberry with its plain-green leaves. A moment’s reflection, though, and we realize the great value of this compact little bush. Forming a dense mound with little or no trimming required, this little beauty is the perfect contrast to all that color of its cousins – calming things down and tying it all together. There are lots of places where we want the gentle look of green to form a frame around our flowers and more colorful shrubs, as an edging or to break up mass plantings. ‘Green is good’ is the slogan for classy garden layouts. There is a splash of color when the bare stems in spring carry a charming display of small golden flowers, and those blooms don’t lead to seeds forming, so this is a non-invasive plant that steps around the bad reputation barberry has in some parts of the country. When all the want and need is a simple mound of green – meet the Kobold Barberry.

Growing the Kobold Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Kobold Barberry is a dwarf deciduous shrub that naturally grows into a dense mound of branches, rising to between 18 and 24 inches tall, and spreading about the same distance across. It is slow-growing taking about 5 years to reach 12 inches tall. It forms a neat ball of green, with tightly interwoven branches carrying a dense covering of leaves. The stems are light green when young turning reddish brown as they mature. There is a short, sharp spine at the base of each leaf or leaf cluster. The leaves are oval, smooth and glossy, and a little less than an inch long. New spring growth is a bright, light green, maturing to a rich dark spinach green for the summer. In fall the leaves turn yellow, often with flashes of red on them. This bush doesn’t flower profusely, but often in early spring there are clusters of ½ inch light yellow blooms along the stems. These rarely develop into the typical red berries found on wild barberries.

Using the Kobold Barberry in Your Garden

Wherever you need a compact dome of green, the Kobold Barberry is perfect. Use it as an accent in your beds, alone or in clusters spaced 12 inches or so apart. Use it with any of our mound-forming barberries in red, yellow or orange to make attractive drifts and patterns. Plant it in a row as an edging – closely spaced for a neat, hedge-like look, or more widely for a more casual effect. Use it in planters and boxes with flowers or taller shrubs for a mellow look around your patio or on a terrace or balcony. This versatile little shrub has 1,001 uses.

Hardiness

The Kobold Barberry is very cold resistant, and completely hardy all through zone 4. It is also heat resistant and grows well even in zone 8.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Able to grow in both full sun and partial shade, the Kobold Barberry is versatile and useful all around your garden. It grows in just about any kind of well-drained soil, including poor, rocky soils, sandy soils, clays and in urban conditions as well. Talk about tough – this little guy just hangs in and keeps on looking great. Avoid dark shade and wet, low-lying areas.

Maintenance and Pruning

Diseases, pests, rabbits and deer all ignore the Kobold Barberry. It is very easy to grow and pretty much takes care of itself. Water regularly during the first season – after that it is drought resistant and reliable. Its neat growth means no need to trim, but you can, if you wish, trim at just about any time to make the neatest domes or the perfect little hedge.

History and Origin of the Kobold Barberry

Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, came to America in 1875 thanks to the Arnold Arboretum, which collected and introduced many new plants from China and Japan, where it grows wild. Independently, it was introduced into Europe and became popular there too. The first plants were larger, with green leaves and grown mostly for their blooms and berries, but it wasn’t long before colored leaf forms appeared. This was first seen in France, but with the growth of a vibrant nursery industry in Boskoop, the Netherlands, newer forms started appearing there. One, called ‘Atropurpurea Nana’, was found at the Van Eyck Nursery in 1942. In American we know that plant as ‘Crimson Pygmy’. New plants are often 1 in a 1,000 chances, and that is exactly what happened at the nursery of brothers Hendrik and Frits den Ouden, in Boskoop, in the 1960s. Among 1,000 plants they were growing of ‘Crimson Pygmy’ one was very different – more compact, mounded, and with green, not red leaves. They grew more from it, and found they had the perfect green mounding shrub. It was named ‘Kobold’ for its cool leaves of cobalt-green. The plant was granted a patent in 1971 (PP# 3,038, now expired) and released in the USA by Monrovia Nurseries, Azusa, California.

Buying the Kobold Barberry at the Tree Center

For the perfect dome of green you can’t beat the Kobold Barberry. These plants are always in high demand with the best designers and gardeners, so stock never stays long. Order now and cool your garden down with this calm and low-care plant.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

Growing the Ruby Carousel® Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Ruby Carousel Barberry is a vigorous, rounded to upright deciduous shrub, with dense growth and many branches growing from the base. The small, rounded leaves are smooth and slightly glossy, and they grow in two different ways. New stems have leaves alternating up them, but older stems grow clusters of leaves in clumps. This means that all the branches stay leafy for years, making a much denser and more colorful bush than most other shrubs. Left untrimmed you can expect it to reach 3 or 4 feet tall, and just a little bit less in width. It is always compact and bushy, right to the ground. At the base of each leaf cluster, and along the new stems, there are sharp thorns, and this variety is more thorny than many other barberry bushes.

The leaves emerge in spring a rich, dark red, and this color is very stable, with virtually no variation throughout the season. Many other red-leaf barberry bushes turn dirty green in summer, but not this one. In most zones it holds the same color through fall too, although we have had reports that in very cold zones the leaves may turn scarlet, which is an interesting bonus.

Once your plant is a few years old, and especially if you don’t trim frequently, it will bloom. All along the older stems, in spring, showy clusters of bright yellow flowers appear, just as the new leaves are emerging. These make a bright, cheerful show against the red leaves, but there is more. You probably won’t notice, but as summer passes those flowers fade and turn into clusters of berries. By fall they have ripened into big bunches of bright red berries, and these become very noticeable once the leaves drop. They are loved by birds, and sometimes they don’t last too long once winter cold arrives. If you are adventurous in the kitchen you can harvest the berries and make a tasty red jam from them.

Using the Ruby Carousel® Barberry in Your Garden

We recommend this barberry for hedges, because it has extremely dense growth and a good upright form. In just a few years you can build a great dense hedge up to 4 feet tall, and with the dense branches and sharp spines this will be a hedge that nothing will penetrate. Four-legged or two-legged uninvited ‘guests’ will never enter your yard through this hedge. Insurance companies recommend plants like barberry for growing beneath windows to deter intruders, and the Ruby Carousel Barberry is perfect for this job. Plant your bushes 2 feet apart for a solid hedge within a short time, or cluster them at that spacing beneath your windows. Add color and security at the same time. This bush is also great for colorful highlights among your shrubs. Plant singly in smaller beds, and in groups of 3 or 5 in larger ones. It gives great form and stable color you will love. It is a wonderful container plant too, in planter boxes, tubs or large pots. Grow them on your patio or terrace for bright color, and because it is drought resistant it won’t matter if you forget to water for a while.

Hardiness

The Ruby Carousel Barberry is hardy in zone 4, and all the way through zone 8. It should also be hardy in sheltered spots in zone 3, with little or no winter damage. If growing above ground in planters or pots, zone 5 or 6 is the limit if you leave your pots outdoors all winter.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the Ruby Carousel Barberry in full sun to retain the best red coloring. It grows well in any well-drained soil, including shallow rocky soils, sandy soils, and harsh urban sites too. Water regularly during the first season to allow it to establish well, but after that it is very drought resistant.

Maintenance and Pruning

There are no significant pests or diseases on this plant. Deer and rabbits leave it alone. You can trim anytime between late winter and fall, and it is best to trim before the new growth appears, and again in early summer for extra neatness.

History and Origin of the Ruby Carousel® Barberry

The Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, arrived in America in 1875, brought from Japan by plant collectors working for the Arnold Arboretum, in Boston. Those plants had green leaves, and it was grown at first for the flowers and berries. The first red-leaf forms were found in France in the early years of the 20th century, and these soon became very popular. The variety called ‘Bailone’ was developed some years ago by Bailey Nurseries, one of America’s largest wholesale growers. Founded in 1905 by John Vincent and Elizabeth Bailey in Minnesota, they have created many great plants, and this one, sold under the registered trademark of Ruby Carousel®, is definitely one of their best.

Buying the Ruby Carousel® Barberry at The Tree Center

This special plant is grown from stem pieces that trace back to that original discovery, and they are greatly superior to anything sold as ‘red-leaf barberry’. Grow the best, and enjoy the best, with the Ruby Carousel Barberry. Order now, because this variety is always in short supply, and sells out very quickly.

The sale of Japanese Barberry varieties that produce seeds is banned in Maine, New York State, and Minnesota. Other states have placed restrictions. Although we attempt to stay up to date on each states’ Department of Agriculture regulations, rules can vary, and change rapidly. This link will show you the situation in your own state and remember that barberry is not a problem in many states. Check our site for non-seeding varieties of Barberry, as many are available. These are not restricted by most states, as they cannot spread.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

Growing the William Penn Barberry

Size and Appearance

The William Penn Barberry is a mounding shrub with many arching branches rising from the base. It grows rapidly to about 4 feet tall, with a slightly wider spread from the way the branches grow gracefully outwards. The stems are ribbed with long ridges of bark, which is a muted yellowish-green color. The leaves grow in clusters all along the stems, and at the base of each leaf cluster is a trio of sharp spines, each about ½ an inch long. These make this plant a useful deterrent to intruders of both the two and four-legged types. Planted beneath windows it makes them virtually entry-proof, and as a hedge it will keep out stray pets and probably deer too.

The leaves are glossy dark green, with a leathery texture, about 3½ inches long and ¾ of an inch wide. They grow in clusters along older stems, and in pairs along new shoots. Their edges have a row of tiny spines, adding to the resistance of this plant. The leaves are green all summer, and they turn lovely shades of deep red in fall, but they mostly stay on the bush for the winter. They drop in April, as the new leaves emerge. These are bronzy-red when young, but by late spring they have changed, returning this plant to its summer green.

The flowering of the William Penn Barberry is spectacular, with many flower clusters, each with up to 10 large yellow blooms, hanging all along the branches. The blooms nestle among the new green leaves, making a lovely display. By fall they have been replaced by clusters of dark-blue berries, which are eaten by birds, but don’t spread into wild areas.

Using the William Penn Barberry in Your Garden

Wherever you need volume and interest in your beds, that is where the William Penn Barberry belongs. Use it beneath windows or plant it at the back of smaller beds. Grow it as a row along a fence, or as a divide between one area of your garden and another. Plant it in sunny areas on rocky slopes, in a natural garden, or in more formal settings – it will always look attractive, and for an impenetrable hedge it cannot be beaten.

Hardiness

The William Penn Barberry is not cold resistant like the Japanese barberry. It is hardy in zone 6, and it thrives in all the hottest zones.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the William Penn Barberry in full sun, or perhaps a little partial shade, but not too much. It will grow vigorously and easily in any well-drained soil, and it grows well in sandy, poorer soils too. It is very drought resistant, and loves a hot, dry location. Always tough and reliable, it needs no special care at all to thrive.

Maintenance and Pruning

If you want a dense hedge you can trim this plant after blooming, and again in summer if needed. Otherwise it needs no special attention. Older plants should have a few of the oldest branches removed at the base – wear gloves – to encourage new stems to grow and maintain its vigor. Pests and diseases are normally not seen, and both deer and rabbits leave this plant alone.

History and Origin of the William Penn Barberry

Only the Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii is seen in most gardens, but there are about 200 species around the world, with many in Asia. Berberis verruculosa is a species from western China, with large yellow blossoms. Mary Gibson Henry was a prominent American botanist and plant collector, with a large garden in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Back in the middle of the 20th century she was growing that barberry, and one day she spotted a seedling beneath it, which looked very different. She collected some seed from it and grew more seedlings. She at first thought this plant was a hybrid between B. verruculosa and another Chinese barberry, B. julianae. In 1963 she was given a patent on her plants (#2, 212, now expired) with that parentage, but today we know the other parent was probably B. gagnepainii, another Chinese species known for its blue-black berries. That same hybrid was also independently found early last century in the Netherlands, and also in France. Mary Henry named her plant ‘William Penn’, and her garden became the basis of the Henry Foundation, a botanic garden set up with her inheritance.

Buying the William Penn Barberry at The Tree Center

We love the old-style look of this shrub, with its spectacular blooming and very attractive foliage. It is perfect for an older home, but also great for a modern planting. We would love to see it more widely grown, and you can be the first in your neighborhood to do that, but order them right away, as our supply of this rare plant is very limited, and they will be all gone very soon.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

Growing the Sunjoy® Mini Salsa Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Mini Salsa Barberry is a compact deciduous shrub that grows into a dense, twiggy plant growing between 18 and 24 inches tall and wide. Its slender but tough stems have sharp spines along them, making this plant ideal for keeping out unwelcome critters, with either four or two legs.

The leaves are small and oval, with a smooth, glossy surface. They are typically about ¾ of an inch long, but the stems are tightly packed with many leaves, so it is always bushy and dense. The leaves begin in spring a bright deep red, and new leaves are always that color, throughout the growing season. As they mature the leaves quickly become a deep, rich burgundy purple, and they hold that color throughout the summer and the fall too, without greening or changing color. This means you have a very stable and permanent color in your garden, making it easy to add other colors to it. This dark, rich tone blends well with just about any other color in the garden, so you won’t create nasty color clashes either.

In spring, as the new leaves are expanding, you will see clusters of 2 or 3 small bright yellow flowers along the older stems, making a pretty effect. In fall, as the leaves fall, you may see bright red berries all along the stems that have developed from those flowers. These add a touch of color going into the winter, and valuable winter food for birds too. They do mean, though, that this plant is not an ideal choice if you live in a region where Japanese barberry is known to escape into surrounding natural areas, and it should not be grown in states where seed-producing barberries are prohibited. Check our range of other barberries, where there are many varieties available that don’t seed, and that can be safely grown anywhere in the country.

Using the Sunjoy® Mini Salsa Barberry in Your Garden

Wherever you need a compact, colorful bush – that is the ideal spot for this versatile shrub. Grow it as an edging along a bed, a path or a driveway. It will almost never need clipping, but it will stay neat and compact. Space plants 12 inches apart for a continuous row, or for creating drifts of purple threading through your shrub beds. Plant it at the corners of beds, as color points among flowering plants, and also in planter boxes and containers.

Hardiness

Despite its smaller size, the Mini Salsa is just as tough as its bigger brothers, and it is totally hardy in zone 4, and all the way through zone 8. It will also grow in south-western and north-western zone 9 areas, but not so well in northern Florida.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun will give the best leaf color, but this plant will tolerate a few hours of shade each day without any problems. It will grow in any well-drained soil, even poor, rocky soils, heavy clays, urban soils, polluted areas, and other difficult sites. This is a very tough and adaptable plant that will grow just about anywhere that isn’t a swamp. Once established it is drought resistant, and it thrives out in those hot and dry parts of the garden where many other plants fail.

Maintenance and Pruning

The Mini Salsa Barberry is normally not bothered by pests or diseases, and it has specific resistance to wheat rust, so it can safely be grown in farming areas. Deer normally leave it alone, thanks to its sharp little spines, and normally this is a trouble-free and very easy plant to grow. Once it has been growing for a few years you might, if you like super-neat plantings, clip it lightly in early spring before the new growth begins.

History and Origin of the Sunjoy® Mini Salsa

The Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, was brought to America in 1875 from Japan by plant collectors with the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Those plants had green leaves, and they were grown mostly for their flowers and fruits. It was grown in Europe too, and there, around the beginning of the 20th century, forms with dark red leaves began to appear. One of these is still popular, and it is called ‘Concorde’. Early this century Timothy Wood, a grower with Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. in Grand Haven Michigan, collected some berries from plants of ‘Concorde’ and extracted the seeds. He grew them and in 2006 he spotted a plant among them with great potential. It had excellent dark leaf color, and a remarkable neat and compact habit. He named it ‘Mimi’ and it was patented in 2014. It was given the common name of Mini Salsa, and today it is part of Spring Meadows Proven Winners® range, one of their Sunjoy® range of colorful new barberry varieties.

Buying the Sunjoy® Mini Salsa at The Tree Center

If you want colorful easy gardening, then you want this plant, especially if your garden is small, or you need compact plants for sunny areas. Don’t hesitate to order, because everyone else wants these plants too, and they don’t stay in stock very long at all.

The sale of Japanese Barberry varieties that produce seeds is banned in Maine, New York State, and Minnesota. Other states have placed restrictions. Although we attempt to stay up to date on each states’ Department of Agriculture regulations, rules can vary, and change rapidly. This link will show you the situation in your own state and remember that barberry is not a problem in many states. Check our site for non-seeding varieties of Barberry, as many are available. These are not restricted by most states, as they cannot spread.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

Growing the Tiny Gold Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Tiny Gold Barberry is a small mounding deciduous shrub that grows into a dense bush between one and two feet tall and wide. It has many tiny branches, with small, sharp spines on them. It grows just 1½ to 2½ inches a year, never becoming large and problematic. The small oval leaves are only ¾ of an inch long and ½ an inch wide, with many closely-packed leaves along each branch. On new stems the leaves are arranged evenly, but on older branches they grow as dense leafy clusters close together along the branches. New leaves in spring are an exciting rich gold that really packs a punch. As summer comes they gradually become more chartreuse green – a wonderful and sophisticated garden color – with deeper greens inside the bush and if grown in shade. For an added punch, the leaves turn bright red once cooler fall weather arrives, bringing a great lift to your beds, and then they drop for the winter. The tiny leaves just disappear, needing no raking or blowing.

Although some small yellow flowers might be seen on older branches in spring, they don’t produce any seed, so this plant is totally non-invasive – a great bonus for gardeners in areas where old-fashioned berberis are a problem, spreading into wild areas.

Using the Tiny Gold Barberry in Your Garden

Wherever you need a splash of gold to brighten your garden, the Tiny Gold Barberry steps up and does the job. It is perfect for a golden edge to a bed or a path, and it can be clipped or not, since it will never become large. Create rivers of gold flowing among your other shrubs, along the top of a wall, or down a small slope. For containers and planter boxes it is unsurpassed, adding gold without ever outgrowing its welcome.

Hardiness

Small but tough, the Tiny Gold Barberry thrives in all zones, from 4 to 9, and it is just as resistant to cold as it is to heat.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the Tiny Gold Barberry in full sun for the best golden foliage coloring, but it will also grow with a few hours of shade each day. It doesn’t scorch and burn, as so many other yellow-leaf plants do, so it always looks great. It will grow in any well-drained soil, including poorer soils, urban soils and other harsh conditions. Until it becomes established you should water it regularly, but once it does it is resistant to all but the harshest drought conditions.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases don’t bother this little guy, so it needs virtually no care at all to always look good. Deer normally find it unattractive, with its sharp spines. Even if you like neat edging, you won’t need to trim for years. Once it reaches the size you want, a light trim in early spring, before the new leaves appear, is all it will take to keep it neat all season long. Of course, you don’t need to trim at all, so we put this plant in the ‘plant it and forget it’ category.

History and Origin of the Tiny Gold Barberry

The Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, has a long history in gardens, ever since it was introduced from Japan in 1875 by explorers with the world-famous Arnold Arboretum in Boston. A form with golden leaves first appeared in a nursery in the US in the 1950’s, and since then a number of others have been created. A lot of breeding of this plant has taken place in Europe, and Michal Andrusiv, from Litomyšl in the Czech Republic is an expert at making the tricky crosses needed to develop new plants. In the early 1990s he crossed together two older varieties of the Japanese barberry – the golden-leafed `Aurea` and `Atropurpurea Nana`, a small purple-leaf variety. In 1994 he found what he was looking for. Among the seedlings that grew from this cross was one that was perfect gold, but tiny. He named it ’Tiny Gold’ and patented it in 2006.

Buying the Tiny Gold Barberry at The Tree Center

We love these different barberry bushes, for their toughness and great colors. The Tiny Gold Barberry is undoubtedly the neatest and most compact gold form around, and we know we will be shipping it out from the moment it arrives. Don’t hesitate with your order, and we will get it out to you right away – as long as we still have plants in stock.

Invasive Plant Info

Although Japanese Barberry is quite popular throughout the US, it is found to be invasive in a number of states including our home state of MD. Although it can be bought and planted it should be planted with caution. it is listed as a tier-2 invasive plant in Maryland.

Growing the Sunjoy Gold Pillar® Barberry

Size and Appearance

The Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry is an upright, deciduous shrub with many erect branches rising vertically from its base. It makes a dense bush, reaching 3 or 4 feet in height within a few years, but spreading no more than 2 feet wide. Growth is rapid, and new stems can be a full 12 inches long by fall. It’s striking column-like appearance really makes it stand out, and it is three-quarters of the way to making a hedge without any trimming at all. The stems are studded with small sharp thorns.

The leaves are rounded and in clusters along the stems. Each oval leaf is small and slightly glossy, with a smooth edge, and about 1 inch long. New leaves in spring are a bright golden yellow, clear and as bright as the sun. Mature summer leaves hold that color better than just about any other yellow barberry. All through summer this pillar of gold will blaze away in your garden, free of scorching and burning, something that is a real problem with many other golden barberry bushes. In fall the leaves turn brilliant shades of oranges and red, looking like they have been set on fire – it’s a great show.

In spring, tucked among the leaves, small yellow flowers form in older plants. They may not be noticed because they are the same color as the leaves. In fall, after the leaves are gone, you may get a surprise of bright red berries, in clusters. The birds love them as winter food.

Using the Sunjoy Gold Pillar® Barberry in Your Garden

Wherever you need long-term color, that is where to grow this plant. Use it as a striking specimen in a bed. Plant a cluster in the middle zone of larger beds for a sweep of gold. Plant it around your home. The thorny stems make this an excellent barrier plant for both four-legged and two-legged critters, and perfect for planting below vulnerable windows on your property. Get color and protection at the same time. Grow it as a hedge, spacing plants 18 inches apart in a uniform row. Minimal clipping is needed to keep it neat and narrow. Use this versatile shrub on banks and slopes, or in containers, surrounded by other colors such as blue, purple or silver.

Hardiness

The Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry is completely hardy throughout zone 4, and in all the cooler zones to zone 7 – a large part of the country. It is just as happy in humidity as it is in dry heat, and hot summers and cold winters are fine.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

To maintain its bright yellow coloring the Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry should be grown in full sun. Shade will turn the leaves to a chartreuse green. It grows well even in poor soils, including both heavy clays and dry gravels and sands. Urban soils are never a problem, just avoid any wet or low-lying areas, as wetness is not tolerated well by this plant.

Maintenance and Pruning

No special care is needed. The small leaves just disappear in fall, so you don’t even need to rake. With its naturally dense, upright growth there is no real need to trim, but you can trim in spring for a very neat appearance if you wish. If growing in poorer soils some shrub and tree fertilizer in spring will keep it vigorous. This plant is normally free from pests and diseases, and both deer and rabbits leave it alone.

History and Origin of the Sunjoy Gold Pillar® Barberry

The Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, was brought from its home in China and Japan in 1875 by collectors from the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. It was a big hit for its flowers and berries, and for toughness, and soon forms with colored leaves were being developed by breeders all over the world. In 1998 Lucjan Kurowski and his son Grzegorz decided to breed a new barberry. They run the large Kuroswki Nursery in Konskowola, Poland. They collected berries from a variety called ‘Aurea’ and raised many seedlings to study. In 2001 they selected one, with great color and an upright form. They called it ‘Maria’ after Lucjan’s wife Marysia. For release in the USA it was patented in 2007 by Spring Meadow Nursery of Grand Haven, Michigan, who have given it the trademark name of Sunjoy Gold Pillar®.

Buying the Sunjoy Gold Pillar® Barberry at The Tree Center

We love these colorful barberry bushes – they are just so easy, and yet so bright. We find they sell quickly, so order yours now, while we can still send you this slice of sunlight for your garden.

The sale of Japanese Barberry varieties that produce seeds is banned in Maine, New York State, and Minnesota. Other states have placed restrictions. Although we attempt to stay up to date on each states’ Department of Agriculture regulations, rules can vary, and change rapidly. This link will show you the situation in your own state and remember that barberry is not a problem in many states. Check our site for non-seeding varieties of Barberry, as many are available. These are not restricted by most states, as they cannot spread.