It's all about ...
plants

Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder
 
shrub

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii 'Helen'

Add To My Plant List

Sunjoy Syrah Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Helen') at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Sunjoy Syrah Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Helen') at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry in bloom

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Sunjoy Syrah Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Helen') at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry foliage

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  5 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Brand:  Proven Winners

Description:

This dramatic variety glows with deep black-purple foliage, providing season-long color; very showy, great as a color contrast in the landscape; upright habit is good for hedging

Ornamental Features

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry has attractive deep purple foliage with hints of black which emerges rose in spring on a plant with a round habit of growth. The small oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding dark red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Spiny

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Sunjoy® Syrah Japanese Barberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Container 
Applications
Foliage Color  Fall Color 
Ornamental Features