Thunberg’s barberry (Berberis thunbergii, Syst. Nat. 2: 9 (1821))

Family: Berberidaceae

Author: DC.

Bibliography: Syst. Nat. 2: 9 (1821)

Year: 1821

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Berberis

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. & S. Japan

Description

Thunberg’s barberry, known scientifically as Berberis thunbergii, is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the Berberidaceae family. Native to Central and Southern Japan, this plant has been appreciated for its ornamental value and utility in landscaping. It was first described in 1821 by the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle and is documented in his publication “Systema Naturae.”

Berberis thunbergii is widely recognized for its dense, thorny branches and vibrant, oval-shaped leaves, which can range in color from deep green to striking shades of red and orange in the fall. The plant produces small yellow flowers in the spring, which later give way to bright red berries that persist into the winter months, providing visual interest and food for wildlife.

Due to its hardy nature, Thunberg’s barberry is a popular choice for hedges, borders, and foundation plantings. It thrives in a variety of soil types and conditions but prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. The shrub is also known for its drought tolerance once established, making it a versatile addition to many garden settings.

While valued for its aesthetic appeal and structural use in gardens, it is important to note that in some regions, Berberis thunbergii is considered invasive. Its ability to spread rapidly and form dense thickets can outcompete native vegetation, leading to ecological concerns. Therefore, responsible cultivation and management practices are recommended to prevent unwanted spread.

Thunberg’s barberry continues to be a subject of horticultural interest due to its adaptability, striking appearance, and historical significance within the botanical sciences.

Common Names

Fra: berbéris de thunberg, epine-vinette de thunberg, épine-vinette du japon
Dan: hvid potentil, hæk-berberis, liggende potentil
Eng: japanese barberry, japanese berberis, thunberg’s barberry
Nld: japanse berberis
Nor: kryptepperot
Fin: lännenhanhikki, japaninhappomarja
Swe: revig blodrot, smällspirea, häckberberis, japaninhappomarja
Deu: thunberg-berberitze, thunbergs berberitze
Lav: tunberga b
Nno: haustberberis
Nob: høstberberis
Hun: japán borbolya (incl. sötétbordó változat)
Cym: pren melyn thunberg
En: Thunberg’s barberry, Japanese barberry, Japanese berberis, Red barberry
Zh: 日本小檗
Hr: Thumbergova žutika
Cs: Dřišťál Thunbergův
Da: Hvid potentil, Hæk-berberis, Liggende Potentil
Nl: Japanse berberis
Et: Thunbergi kukerpuu
Fi: Japaninhappomarja, Lännenhanhikki
Fr: Epine-vinette de thunberg, Berbéris de Thunberg, Épine-vinette du Japon
De: Thunberg-Berberitze, Thunbergs Berberitze, Glockensauerdorn, Grüne Hecken Berberitze
Hu: Japán borbolya (incl. sötétbordó változat)
Is: Sólbroddur
It: Crespino di Thunberg, Crespino giapponese
Lv: Tunberga b
No: Høstberberis, Kryptepperot
Nb: Høstberberis
Nn: Haustberberis
Fa: زرشک زینتی
Pl: Berberys Thunberga
Ru: Барбарис Тунберга
Sr: Тумбергова жутика
Es: Berberis purpurea
Sv: Häckberberis, Revig blodrot, Smällspirea, Japaninhappomarja
Zh-tw: 日本小檗
Zh-hant: 日本小檗
Cy: Pren melyn Thunberg

Synonyms

• Berberis thunbergii f. minor ((Rehder) Zabel)
• Berberis thunbergii var. pluriflora ((Koehne) Rehder)
• Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ((Chenault) Rehder)
• Berberis thunbergii var. rubrifolia (Ahrendt)
• Berberis thunbergii f. pluriflora (Koehne)
• Berberis thunbergii var. minor (Rehder)
• Berberis thunbergii f. grandiflora (E.L.Wolf ex V.V.Byalt, L.V.Orlova & Potokin)
• Berberis thunbergii f. microcarpa (E.L.Wolf ex V.V.Byalt, L.V.Orlova & Potokin)
• Berberis thunbergii f. obovata (E.L.Wolf ex V.V.Byalt, L.V.Orlova & Potokin)
• Berberis thunbergii f. trispinosa (E.L.Wolf ex V.V.Byalt, L.V.Orlova & Potokin)
• Berberis thunbergii var. maximowiczii ((Regel) Regel)
• Berberis thunbergii var. erecta ((Rehder) Ahrendt)
• Berberis thunbergii f. erecta (Rehder)
• Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea (Chenault)
• Berberis thunbergii var. argenteomarginata (C.K.Schneid.)
• Berberis thunbergii var. uniflora (Koehne)

Distribution

• Japan (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Wolfgang Klesper (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2021 by Gilles Istin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 15, 2019 by agarrista m (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Ed Edgar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 5, 2017 by Jean-Francois Dumas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 5, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 6, 2017 by César Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2019 by Gomez Monica (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2019 by Gomez Monica (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 24, 2009 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2009 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 8, 2021 by Beytullah AYDIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2021 by Beytullah AYDIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 14, 2022 by ñah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 26, 2019 by Jean-Baptiste Armengaud (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 23, 2019 by mohammad fazel dehkordi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2020 by Hem B (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 21, 2022 by Oğuzhan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 21, 2022 by Oğuzhan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 14, 2022 by ñah (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3033896)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:107136-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Berberis thunbergii DC.)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Shrub

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.2

Ph minimum: 5.5