Japanese barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Also called Barberry and Berberis
Garden plant · ShrubsBanned from sale in several US states — it seeds into woodland and the thickets it makes are known tick habitat. Check before you plant it.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 9 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun for the leaf colour
- Feed
- Every 60 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Very hardy RHS H7, to -25°C
- Size
- 1.25 m tall · 1.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Japan
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-03. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.