Berberis thunbergii Aurea - Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' is a particularly bright form of the barberry, whose foliage is painted yellow. Well-gilded in spring, the bush greens somewhat in summer before donning its beautiful orange autumn attire. Among this beautiful foliage, small yellow flowers streaked with red bloom in spring, followed by bright red berries that are decorative in late season and winter. Of moderate size, the bush has a beautiful wide and bushy habit, slightly spreading, which is particularly graceful when used as a large groundcover or in a small mixed hedge.

Berberis thunbergii, also known as barberry or Japanese barberry, is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family native to Japan. It is characterised by a bushy, spreading, and low habit, and deciduous foliage, sometimes almost evergreen in mild climates. It is a cold-resistant, undemanding, and adaptable plant that can thrive in various growing conditions. The foliage, deciduous in colder regions, persists during mild winters.

This 'Aurea' form, wider than it is tall, will quickly reach a height of 1.25m (4ft) with a minimum spread of 1.50m (5ft). The branches of this variety, branched and slightly arched at their tips, bear mildly aggressive thorns. The foliage is the main asset of this barberry. It consists of small leaves measuring 2-3 cm (1in) long, obovate (ovate, with the upper part of the leaf wider than the lower part). When budding, they show a very pale yellow colour, then as they mature, they turn to a more golden yellow and then chartreuse in summer. In April-May, numerous clusters of 1 to 6 small flowers bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers, 1 cm (0.5in) long, are golden orange streaked with red. They are highly nectariferous and are followed in September-October by small spherical bright red fruits, 6 to 8 mm (0.3in) long, which persist on the branches for part of the winter. The foliage takes on a beautiful coppery orange colour before falling.

This barberry is a very accommodating shrub, tolerating pruning well, but preferring sunny exposures. It is, however, a shame to confine it to the role of a monochrome and anonymous defensive hedge. While it fulfills its mission perfectly, its personality is stifled and its naturally graceful habit is completely obscured. Its beautiful foliage, highly decorative in some cultivars like 'Aurea', deserves a prominent location in front of larger shrubs with purple foliage (Physocarpus Midnight, elderberry Black Lace), or gray foliage (Caryopteris Sterling Silver, Salix lanata), with red flowers (Japanese quinces, roses, Weigelas), or even yellow to orange flowers (Japanese kerria, Genista Lena Orange, honeysuckle Dropmore Scarlett). This shrub can also be planted in large rock gardens to cover slopes or highlight the edge of a pathway. It also thrives in large containers to adorn the patio or balcony.