Little Favourite Japanese Barberry

Little Favourite Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Little Favourite') is a dwarf, spiny shrub only 50cm high and wide, about a third the height of the usual barberry. Small oval leaves open a rich plum and turn red in autumn, tiny flowers give way to red berries, and the dense habit is made for low hedges. It is completely frost hardy and easy about soil.

Why you'll love it

• Rich leaf colour. Small plum leaves turn red in autumn, and the colour is at its best in sun.
• Compact and dense. At 50cm by 50cm it makes a ready made low hedge without heavy clipping.
• Fully frost hardy. It is hardy to Siberian levels of cold, so winter is no obstacle.
• Easy about soil. Any reasonably well drained soil will do, in sun or shade, even in tough urban sites.
• Red berries. Tiny flowers are followed by bright red berries that add interest late in the season.

Where it works best

Low hedges and borders. Plant 40cm apart in a single row for a continuous plum coloured hedge about 50cm high. Wear gloves, because the stems are spiny.

Security boundaries. A low spiny planting beneath windows or along a fence line discourages anyone stepping through.

Feature shrub. Groups of three or five bring plum and red colour to a bed, with the most vivid foliage in full sun.

Growing Little Favourite Japanese Barberry in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the richest plum and red; shade is tolerated, but the colour is less vibrant. It is completely frost hardy and prefers a climate with a proper winter, so it suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens better than humid tropical ones.

Soil. Any reasonably well drained soil. Avoid sites that stay waterlogged.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for about 12 weeks until established. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Prune as required after flowering to maintain the shape. Use thick gloves and long sleeves, because the spines are sharp.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Little Favourite Japanese Barberry as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. As a dwarf form it starts small and fills out steadily, so it suits a patient hedge more than an instant one. Plant it out soon after delivery, and handle it with gloves.

Tube stock is raised by our grower and is not always available. When it shows as sold out, the notify button on this page sends you an email the day plants are back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Best hedging plants
• Plants with autumn colour
• Frost hardy plants
• Low hedge plants under one metre

Common questions

Does it keep its leaves in winter?

In cold climates it drops its leaves for winter and the spiny stems stand bare. The plum and red leaf colour runs from spring to autumn.

Is it thorny?

Yes. The stems are spiny, which makes it useful as a security hedge, but wear gloves when you plant, prune or weed around it.

How far apart for a low hedge?

Forty centimetres apart in a single row. The plants grow about 50cm wide, so they close into a continuous line.