Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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.
Sunjoy Neo® Barberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 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
- 30-32 Inches
- Mature Spread
- 30-32 Inches
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Dry
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Yellow
- Flower Description
- Yellow
- 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
- Foliage Description
- Orange
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Sunjoy Neo® Barberry
- Botanical Name
- Berberis thunbergii 'NCBT2' USPPAF
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- 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
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
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, 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!