Golden Dream Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Dream'
Height: 5 feet
Spread: 5 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Description:
An exceptional garden selection with a rounded habit of growth and stunning red new growth on tiny red stems; foliage matures to bright yellow, then shades of orange in fall; an exceptional color shrub for the mixed border
Ornamental Features
Golden Dream Japanese Barberry has attractive yellow deciduous foliage which emerges red in spring on a plant with a mounded habit of growth. The small oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding orange in the fall. The fruits are showy scarlet drupes displayed from early to late fall.
Landscape Attributes
Golden Dream Japanese Barberry is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Golden Dream Japanese Barberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
Golden Dream Japanese Barberry will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Golden Dream Japanese Barberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.