Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Orange Rocket Barberry, Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’, provides a striking focal point in any shrub border. Its unusual upright habit and colorful foliage make this a fantastic centerpiece for any garden. The bright coral-orange colored foliage in the spring changes to red foliage in the fall.
These shrubs are great planted by itself as a specimen or in a mass planting. We also like to use these as a colorful shorter deciduous hedge or border by planting several next to each other. The columnar habit makes this a fantastic plant for garden planters as a "thriller" and focal point of the container.
Orange Rocket Barberry Care
When planting, be sure to water regularly until the plant is established. This typically will take 3-4 months. Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture, reduce weeds, and add extra protection against harsh weather conditions. Plant in full sun for best color, although the plant can also grow in partial shade.
Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer each spring for best results. Once established, the plant is drought tolerant and can handle a variety of weather conditions with no issues. The plant does have tiny thorns on it, like most barberry do. So you can use these as a barrier plant too.
Pruning Orange Rocket Barberry
Prune back one third after spring after the plant has flushed out with new growth. This allows you to enjoy the brilliant coral-orange color of the new growth. This helps the plant to maintain compact shape. To rejuvenate older plants, you can remove some of the older stems all the way down to the ground. This allows the new branches to flourish.
Orange Rocket Barberry Spacing
Plant singly as a specimen or in a mass planting, 2 or 3 feet apart, center to center. You may also grow into a hedge by planting 18 inches apart, center on center. Another great idea is to plant these as column intervals to provide depth and height to the garden. Your friends, neighbors and family will surely comment on it once they see it.
Orange Rocket Barberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (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
- Part Shade to Full Sun (4+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 1.5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Columnar
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- Flower Description
- n/a
- Bloom Time
- Grown for Foliage
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Red
- Foliage Description
- Coral to Ruby Red
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Fall Interest, Winter Interest, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Orange Rocket Barberry
- Also Known As
- Orange Rocket Barberry
- Botanical Name
- Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket' PP18411
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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