You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Spacing: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm) 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color: Bright Yellow Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer
Foliage: Grown for foliage Deciduous Burgundy Smooth-Textured Mottled Good Fall Color
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater This plant is resistant to deer
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball From softwood cuttings From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; stratify if sowing indoors By stooling or mound layering
Seed Collecting: Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
On Oct 20, 2008, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
Japanese Barberry, Dwarf Redleaf Barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea) 'Crimson Pygmy' has been a very slow grower for me. I planted 2 plants and one of them died after about 3 years from some sort of a fungus. I have found it difficult to find a plant that is the same size to replace the one that did not live. It requires no maintenance and provides beautiful color all year long. It is planted in the hottest, driest part of my yard and requires little water.
On May 21, 2008, therica from Falling Waters, WV (Zone 7a) wrote:
Informally known as ihaithatshit by my wife, who despises the rather small but painfully-sharp short needles. The plant is nearly impossible to handle without gloves and sleeve-protection.
Beautiful dark-red foilage even in spring, seems to grow well with much abuse, poor soil and hot dry full-sun summers.
Ours are being transplanted to a safer part of our property, away from frequent human exposure.
Definitely deer-resistant, the deer seem to eat half of our small shrubs every winter but these are (of course!) never touched.
On Nov 23, 2007, HoosierGreen from Danville, IN wrote:
The thing to remember with this particular variety of "dwarf" barberry is that since it has become so popular, it is rarely propagated by cuttings anymore (cloning). Rather, it is more commonly sold propagated from seed, which results in a wide range of mature sizes. It's like planting seed from a great-colored blue spruce, which would result in seedlings with a range of color from plain green, to green-blue, blue-green, and a few good blues. If you want a real dwarf red barberry, search for cloned varieties (from stem cuttings) such as 'Bagatelle', 'Royal Burgandy', or 'Concorde'. That way, you won't be disappointed and stuck with trimming such a prickly shrub every year. Interestingly, nurseries have started to stock a variety called 'True Crimson Pygmy', after many professional landscapers have complained!
On Nov 17, 2004, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote:
I like this plant....but my 'pygmy's are now nearly 4 foot tall. They can get bigger than advertised.
I like a natural , open shape and don't prune heavilly....but these are getting a little big for their breeches. As long as they don't get much bigger, they're fine where I've put them, but I'm going to have to give them serious haircuts if they continue to grow.
On Apr 17, 2004, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:
Old leaves are bronze-red while the new growth tips are a lighter color. This is a dwarf plant and is suitable for flower beds and walkways.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Oxford, Connecticut Keystone Heights, Florida Ellijay, Georgia Crystal Lake, Illinois Peoria, Illinois Danville, Indiana Olathe, Kansas Alfred, Maine Lincoln, Nebraska Keyport, New Jersey North Tonawanda, New York Hamilton, Ohio Gresham, Oregon Reading, Pennsylvania Fort Worth, Texas Iredell, Texas New Braunfels, Texas San Antonio, Texas Falling Waters, West Virginia Madison, Wisconsin
3 vendors have this plant for sale.
