Berberis thunbergii 'Bogozam' - Bonanza Gold Barberry
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Concorde' - Concorde Barberry
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pygmy' - Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow' - Rose Glow Barberry
Berberis vulgaris - Common Barberry
Known for their variations in size, foliage and fruit colors, the Barberry is a favorite the world over, and not just in the landscape; they have a long-documented history of use for medicinal purposes for many ailments the world over. A member of the Berberidaceae family, there are both evergreen and deciduous varieties of this plant that is native to Europe, China and North Africa (there are even a few native to South America).
As with the specimen pictured above, there are some foliage differences between cultivars that can generate a good deal of interest. In general, the red or purple-leafed varieties tend to show more of the crimson hues when given greater exposure to sunlight. In the picture above you can see how the outermost foliage (that received the most sun) has a deep purplish hue while interior foliage is a bright green. Variegated foliage, either on the leaves of new shoots or blanketing the entire plant, give landscape designers and their clients more options to consider for their landscape.
Though blooms are most often a bright yellow, their orientation and size make them relatively inconspicuous (especially in yellow-leafed varieties like the Bonanza Gold Barberry, whose foliage color matches the bloom color perfectly, making the blooms nearly invisible to the casual observer). The fruit of the Barberry is another desirable trait, with bright red berries growing on most varieties in late summer to early fall. Fall color for some is also a tremendous show, with reds turning to flaming hues.
Barberry will typically do well in sand, loam or clay soils, and will tolerate dry conditions. Most will not do well in soils that are often wet. They will perform nicely from somewhat shady locations to full sun, but as mentioned earlier, full sun is their preference.