Japanese Barberry Growth Rate

Growth Rate

• The growth rate of the Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is medium, which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, denotes a tree that grows between 13 and 24 inches annually. Depending on the cultivar, it achieves a mature height of between 3 and 6 feet with a spread of 4 to 7 feet. A wide number of cultivars exist, including the "Crimson Pygmy" and the "Rose Glow." The foliage of the shrub is dense and contains many thorns.

Environment

• A deciduous specimen, the Japanese barberry features leaves that develop early in the spring, taking on a dark green color in the summer that gives way to an orange or reddish-purple color in the fall. The growth rate of the shrub is best when planted in full sunshine or a mixture of partial shade. It is tolerant of most types of soil, drought-resistant and handles the pollution and stress of urban living better than many shrubs.

Features

• The Japanese barberry withstands the rigors of transplanting with ease and tolerates pruning nicely. Bestowed with a uniform growth rate, several of the bushes massed together make an excellent hedgerow. Because of its large collection of thorns, it also serves as an effective barrier plant. True to its name, the shrub produces a bright red berry in the fall that grows to ½ inch in length. The berry survives into the winter and offers substantial color in a bleak landscape.

Problems

• Although the tree is generally resistant to serious problems, Japanese barberry growth rates can be reduced by heavy infestations of pests like aphids, scale insects and the barberry webworm, a tiny black caterpillar with white spots that causes damage to the shoot tips and leaves of the plant. Fungal diseases like anthracnose, powdery mildew and Phyllosticta leaf spot primarily injure the aesthetic value of the tree, but severe cases can lead to the yellowing of leaves and premature defoliation.