Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Is your garden one monotone green color for much of the growing season? Does it need an extra dose of color and texture? Gold Leaved Barberry will bring your garden an easy pop of gold that will contrast with basic green. Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’ or Gold Leaved Barberry per its namesake, has bright golden-chartreuse foliage that turns a fantastic orange red in the fall. The plant has spiny stems and an insignificant flower. This easy-to-grow and adaptable shrub is a wonderful addition to most gardens.
Gold Leaved Barberry grows up to 3 - 5 feet tall with an upright, mounding habit. It is a deciduous shrub that is hardy to zone 4. In warmer climates, the shrub may remain evergreen over the winter. Gold Leaved Barberry is deer and pest resistant, making it very low maintenance and worry-free. Gold Leaved Barberry is a great choice for hedging, garden borders, or containers.
Gold Leaved Barberry Care
Gold Leaved Barberry grows well in full sun to part shade. The foliage color, from chartreuse to fall oranges, is most brilliant in a full sun location. The plant has average water needs and prefers well-drained soil that is acidic to slightly alkaline. Fertilize one time a year in early spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Typically, Gold Leaved Barberry does not require pruning. Selective shaping can be done for more manicured hedges in the fall or winter. Do not prune more than one-third of the plant at a time. Remove any dead branches from the plant at any point of the year.
Gold Leaved Barberry Spacing
Gold Leaved Barberry will grow to 3 to 5 feet in height and width. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart if planting a uniform hedge and slightly farther apart to create drifts in the garden.
Gold Leaved Barberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- Flower Description
- Yellow
- Foliage Color
- , Yellow
- Foliage Description
- Yellow
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Gold Leaved Barberry
- Also Known As
- Gold Leaved Barberry
- Botanical Name
- Berberis thun. 'Aurea'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: CT, DE, ID, IN, MD, MA, ME, MN, PA, NY, NH, VT, WV, WI, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!