Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea'
Common name: 
Golden Japanese Barberry
Pronunciation: 
BER-ber-is thun-BER-jee-a
Family: 
Berberidaceae
Genus: 
Berberis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous shrub, 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) tall, equal width, upright, mounded.  Leaves yellowish, alternate, 1.5-3.0 cm long, one-third as wide, borne in clusters.  Flowers yellow, few, 8-20 mm across; fruit 0.8 mm across.
  • Sun to part shade, color best in full sun.  A bold accent plant.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4
  • Other yellow-green cultivars include:
    • Bonanza Gold™, similar, but smaller
    • Golden Nugget™ (‘Monlers’), yellow-golden foliage, orangish in fall
    • Sunsation™ (‘Monry’), has yellow-golden foliage with an orange cast most of the season
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, spring

    plant habit, spring

  • foliage

    foliage

  • leaves

    leaves

  • plant habit, early summer

    plant habit, early summer

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot