Gold Leaved Barberry

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 vibrant 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 Information