The sturdy, deciduous shrub known as 'Japanese Barberry' is native to Japan and is both useful and ornamental in nature. Thick and bushy, thorny and hardy, this shrub does well as a hedge and effectively supports an air of privacy. These plants can also be used to section off and separate areas in the garden.

In spring the leaves of this bush are initially green and when fall comes, they take on shades of orange, red, scarlet and purple. The plant can grow from 3 ft to 6 ft with tiny flowers hiding under the leaves. Red berries then appear late in summer and stay till the winter comes. There are many varieties all of which thrive in sunny but not wet conditions and in different soils. The seeds from this shrub can get bushes growing unplanned and unwanted, so a seedless variety is a good option. Some strains of Japanese Barberry are as follows:

1. Aurea - 3 ft to 4 ft tall bush having really bright yellow leaves that turn yellow-green in the shade and put out few berries.

2. Concorde - Generally 3 ft in height, bushy and with few berries. Leaves are reddish purple in color.

3. Gold Nugget - Shorter in height, this shrub grows to about 2 ft. Leaves are golden yellow that become orange in the fall season. Hardly any berries.

4. Rose Glow - Grows quite easily and taller to about 6 ft. with moderate amount of scarlet to orange colored berries. The leaves come out in smudges of pink and purple and become a bright purplish-rose later on.

5. Sparkle - Summer foliage is dark green turning an orange-red in the fall. This cultivar is more ornamental in that it has small, yellow flowers with bright, red berries.

If you like artciles about trees & shrubs....These pages might also interest you:

Guide to Conifers & Evergreens, How to Prune Shrubs, Gardening With Viburnum, Gingko Trees, Growing Magnolias, Japanese Barbury, Katsura Trees,Shrubs as Garden Borders,The Weeping Atlas Tree, Tough Trees, Great Birch Trees, Growing Citrus Trees, How to Prune Shrubs,How to Start Seedlings, Lustrous Abelia, Popular Shrubs, Shrub Winter Care Guide, Shrubs With Berries, Summer Hydrangeas