Deciduous & Flowering Shrubs

Golden Rocket Japanese barberry

Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket'

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Golden Rocket Japanese barberry forms a narrow, upright deciduous shrub with yellow to chartreuse foliage. Spring flowers are followed by red berries, adding a second seasonal feature before the leaves fall. At maturity, expect about 4 to 5 feet of height and 2 to 3 feet of spread, though growing conditions affect size. Its columnar shape suits a narrow planting space with room for that eventual width. Give it full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil; very wet ground is unsuitable. Japanese barberry is invasive in parts of North America, and this cultivar’s seed fertility has not been established.

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At a glance

Mature height: About 4–5 ft
Mature spread: About 2–3 ft
Light: Full sun or partial shade
Hardiness: Generally hardy to USDA Zone 4

The right plant, the right place

Make room for something good.

Its narrow, columnar form can fit a planting space about 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity. Yellow to chartreuse foliage provides the main color during the growing season.

Where to plant

Choose full sun or partial shade, allowing for about 4 to 5 feet of eventual height. Leave space around the thorny shrub where people pass.

Through the seasons

Yellow to chartreuse foliage accompanies spring flowers. Red berries follow, and the shrub loses its leaves for winter.

Southwest Washington gardens

Give it a good start.

Japanese barberry is invasive in parts of North America, where birds disperse the species’ berries and seeds. Consider that spread risk when choosing a planting site in Southwest Washington.

Soil, drainage & water

Plant in well-drained soil. Avoid ground that remains very wet, particularly through the rainy season.

A little care goes a long way

Growing well, season after season.

Allow room for the shrub’s natural upright form to reach its mature width. Check for standing water after rain and address drainage if the site remains wet.

Know what to look for

Common growing concerns.

Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.

Persistently wet soil

Standing water or soil that remains saturated after rain indicates an unsuitable planting site.

Help your plant thrive

Choose well-drained soil and avoid a spot that stays wet.

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