Group/Class:  WorryFree® Collection

Brand:  WorryFree® Plants

Description:

A seedling free variety that is not invasive; superb reddish-purple foliage all season, and extremely compact, rounded habit; excellent for color contrast, especially when used in groups

Ornamental Features

WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® Japanese Barberry has attractive deep purple-variegated burgundy foliage 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. It features tiny clusters of yellow flowers hanging below the branches in mid spring. The fruits are showy scarlet drupes displayed from early to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® 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 can be pruned at anytime. 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

WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® Japanese Barberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® Japanese Barberry will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium 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 considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. 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.

WorryFree® Crimson Cutie® Japanese Barberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. 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.