ShrubsJapanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a medium-growing shrub, hardy in USDA zones 4-8, that matures to about 3-6 ft × 4-7 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect yellow blooms in spring. It attracts songbirds, stands up well to deer, drought and dry soil.
- USDA zones
- 4-8
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 3-6 ft × 4-7 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry, Very-dry
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Attracts
- Songbirds
- Tough against
- Deer, Drought, Dry soil, Erosion, Heat, Salt, Pollution
- Native to
- Japan
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Japanese Barberry is hardy to about -30°F (estimated from USDA zone 4), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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