Japanese Barberry 'Golden Zwerg'

Japanese Barberry 'Golden Zwerg' (Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Zwerg') is a little sun for the garden. The small leaves keep their bright golden-yellow colouring all season, and in autumn the crown shifts to the orange-red shades typical of Japanese barberry.

A bright shrub like this is planted as an accent in a border, a low barrier along a path, in a rock garden or in a pot beside dark conifers. Choose an open spot: in partial shade the yellow turns green, and both flowering and fruiting weaken noticeably.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The second half of the name is the German Zwerg, meaning dwarf: that is how catalogues mark out the smallest of the yellow-leaved barberries.
• Hardiness: It takes down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: In April and May small but charming pale yellow flowers open.
• Light: Plant it in full sun: that is where the foliage holds its gold - in partial shade it turns green and flowering and fruiting weaken.
• Soil: It takes any ordinary well-drained garden soil - the one thing it dislikes is a heavy waterlogged substrate.
• Watering: Watering dry to medium: established bushes take drought in their stride.
• Care: Care is easy; prune to RHS group 8 - shape and thin out after flowering.
• Landscape use: A border, a low hedge, a rockery, a container and a bright accent within a group.