Japanese Barberry Orange Rocket

A tough, adaptable, vibrant shrub with a long season of interest, Berberis thunbergii Orange Rocket is a medium-sized, spiny, deciduous shrub with deep reddish-brown stems and a compact, upright habit. The ovoid leaves emerge rusty orange, turn mid-green in summer, and orange-red in autumn. Scented yellow flowers, attractive to pollinators, appear in spring, and are followed by shiny, bright red berries in late summer and autumn. Barberry Orange Rocket can be grown as a border shrub, on banks, or as an effective, thorny hedge. Good for wildlife, it’s an easy, low-maintenance shrub which will really brighten up your garden.

Site: Tolerates exposure, including coastal exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil
Position: Flowers and berries best in full sun; happy in partial shade
Season of interest: Spring and autumn in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 4-5’ (1.2-1.5m); Spread: 3’3” (1m)