Sunjoy Neo® Barberry

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

30-32 Inches

Mature Spread

30-32 Inches

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Barberry shrubs aren’t much more brightly colored than the fabulous Sunjoy Neo® from Proven Winners. This compact and easy-to-care-for shrub has a fiery presence from spring to late fall. The naturally mounded shape works well at the front of a border or mixed in with other shrubs for a display of foliage, form, and color. Adding a bright shrub such as Neo® to your landscape is easier than you might think, and might be just that little something you didn’t know you needed.

Sunjoy™ Neo® Barberry grows slowly and keeps a naturally mounded shape with minimal pruning required. Plant Neo® as a groundcover, low-growing hedge, or as a specimen or filler in a large seasonal planter near the front entrance to your home. The intense orange of Neo® highlights hot-colored perennials or offsets cool green evergreens. Try matching Neo® Barberry with sedums, ornamental grasses, or low-growing junipers to create a water-wise garden plan. Barberry is resistant to deer and rabbit browsing due to the sharp spines on the stems.

Sunjoy™ Neo® Barberry Care

Planting and caring for Barberry is quite simple. This genus of deciduous shrubs will grow happily in average garden soil with a neutral pH as long as the location is well draining year-round. Choose a location with at least 6 hours of sun, so Neo® stays gloriously orange and does not turn green. Heavy clay soil will need amending with compost to improve drainage. Use containers that have excellent drainage when growing Barberry in a pot. Fertilize lightly early in the spring with a topdressing of a balanced, slow-release feed. Water newly planted shrubs consistently for the first year to promote a strong root system that is drought tolerant when established. 

Berberis thunbergii ‘Neo’ blooms early in the summer, leading to brilliant red berries that last through the winter. Deadheading this shrub before seeds form is the best way to control its spread. Light pruning early in the spring will help to remove any stems damaged by the winter and tidy up the shape. Cutting into thick stems is not recommended, as Barberry is slow to regrow. Barberry makes a wonderful substitute for Boxwood and can be kept tightly clipped and formal with one or two pruning sessions a year.

Sunjoy™ Neo® Barberry Spacing

The overall height and spread of Neo® Barberry is 30-36 inches. Space plants 30 inches apart, center on center, to form a dense hedge or slightly farther apart to accentuate the rounded form. Neo® Barberry requires a pot with at least a 16-inch diameter for growing in a container.

Restricted States: IN, MA, ME, NH, NY and VT.