Plant Database
Crimson Pygmy Dwarf Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’, ‘Atropurpurea Nana’
The Crimson Pygmy Dwarf Japanese Barberry is one of the most popular and widely planted dwarf shrubs, cherished for its intense, year-long foliage color and incredibly versatile, compact form. This dense, rounded, deciduous shrub is covered in small, oval leaves of a rich, deep crimson to reddish-purple that hold their color throughout the summer . In autumn, the foliage ignites into brilliant shades of bright red and orange before falling . Small, pale yellow flowers bloom inconspicuously in spring, followed by glossy, bright red berries in fall and winter that attract birds and add seasonal interest . Its spiny stems create a fine-textured, dense barrier, while its tough-as-nails nature—tolerating drought, heat, poor soil, and deer—makes it an indispensable, low-maintenance workhorse for adding reliable, vivid color to any sunny landscape.