Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea (Purple Japanese barberry)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
1.5m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea
Other names
Purple Japanese barberry, Redleaf Japanese barberry, Red leaf Japanese barberry, Red-leaved Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'
Genus
Berberis Berberis
Species
B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea - B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea is a vigorous, dense, rounded, deciduous shrub with ovate, reddish-purple to bronze-red leaves turning red in autumn and umbel-like racemes of red-flushed, pale yellow flowers in mid-spring followed by elliptic, glossy, red fruit.
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea is: Deciduous
Habit
Rounded, Dense
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
Flower
Flushed pink, Pale-yellow in Spring
Foliage
Reddish-purple in Spring; Reddish-purple in Summer; Red in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 8. To renovate old plants, remove the oldest stems at the base and cut back all branches to healthy young shoots in late winter.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea (Purple Japanese barberry) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Plant in any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Flowers and fruit are best in full sun.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea
Other names
Purple Japanese barberry, Redleaf Japanese barberry, Red leaf Japanese barberry, Red-leaved Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'
Genus
Berberis Berberis
Species
B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea - B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea is a vigorous, dense, rounded, deciduous shrub with ovate, reddish-purple to bronze-red leaves turning red in autumn and umbel-like racemes of red-flushed, pale yellow flowers in mid-spring followed by elliptic, glossy, red fruit.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Rounded, Dense
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Flushed pink, Pale-yellow in Spring
Foliage
Reddish-purple in Spring; Reddish-purple in Summer; Red in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 8. To renovate old plants, remove the oldest stems at the base and cut back all branches to healthy young shoots in late winter.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea (Purple Japanese barberry) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Plant in any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Flowers and fruit are best in full sun.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By garden designers Lucy Glover and Jacqueline Poll. Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, supports the principles of ‘designing out crime’ through… read more
By London based garden designer Pippa Schofield. After building a new conservatory it became clear that the view out onto the garden needed improving. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login