Mortellaro's Nursery
Print This Page
Barberry, Crimson Pigmy
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
Discontinued
Crimson Pygmy Barberry is a compact, dwarf selection of Japanese barberry prized for its rich burgundy foliage and tidy, mounded habit. Much smaller than older barberry varieties, it typically grows about 1½–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, making it well suited for low borders, edging, and small foundation plantings. The deep red leaves hold their color best in full sun, providing strong contrast against green shrubs and perennials. Small yellow flowers may appear in spring, occasionally followed by small red berries that can persist into cooler months.
This shrub is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and handles heat and drought reasonably well once established. Its dense branching and sharp thorns also make it naturally deer resistant, which historically made barberries popular for barrier plantings or defensive hedges. However, the same dense growth habit that makes it attractive in the landscape can also create thick, sheltered understory where wildlife and insects thrive.
In several parts of the United States, Japanese barberry species have been linked to increased tick populations because their dense thickets create humid conditions close to the ground that protect ticks and the small mammals that carry them. While Lyme disease is far less common in Texas than in the northeastern United States, ticks capable of spreading disease do occur here. Because barberry can provide ideal tick habitat, many landscape professionals now recommend avoiding its use around homes and gardens.
Ticks have also become a growing concern in Texas for another reason. In parts of East Texas, bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) have been associated with alpha-gal syndrome, an unusual allergy that can cause people to react to red meat such as beef or pork after a tick bite. For Texans who enjoy their barbecue, that possibility hits especially close to home. Due to these concerns, along with the plant’s invasive tendencies in some regions, our nursery has chosen to discontinue growing Crimson Pygmy Barberry and encourage gardeners to consider alternative shrubs better suited to modern Texas landscapes.
 |
Compact hedge |
|
Burgundy foliage |
|
Thorny barrier |
|
Height:2-3 Feet |
|
Spread:2-3 Feet |
|
Spacing:2 ft |
USDA Hardiness Zone 5
Characteristics & Attributes
|
Deer Tolerance
|
Exposure
|
Habit
|
Soil pH Preference
|
||||||||
|
Water Needs
|
