Concorde Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Concorde')
BER-ber-iss thun-BER-jee-eye 'Concorde'

Deciduous Perennial Rounded, Dome-Shaped Shrub in the Berberidaceae Family
Dramatic maroon and plum foliage with small yellow flowers in spring.
Concorde Japanese Barberry is a compact, dome-shaped deciduous shrub prized for its rich maroon-purple foliage, which holds its color well through the growing season and turns scarlet in fall. Small pale yellow flowers with a reddish tinge appear along the branches in mid-spring, followed by red berries that persist into winter and draw songbirds. Dense, spiny branching makes this cultivar a strong low hedge or barrier planting, and its tidy, rounded habit needs little pruning to stay in form. Full sun brings out the deepest foliage color, though it tolerates partial shade and a wide range of soils once established.

Pros

  • Rich maroon-purple foliage all season, turning scarlet in fall
  • Compact, dense, dome-shaped habit needs little pruning
  • Drought-tolerant once established and adaptable to many soils
  • Deer-resistant thanks to its spiny branches

Cons

  • Sharp spines make pruning and handling difficult
  • Self-seeds readily and is considered invasive in several states
  • Susceptible to anthracnose, scale, and a few minor pests
Highlights
  • Season-long maroon-purple color
  • Compact dome shape needs minimal pruning
  • Tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil
  • Deer resistant
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Drought-tolerant once established; prefers well-drained soil and dislikes standing water.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fall Color, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Mounded, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Thorns, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April To May
Flower Color Pale Yellow With Red Tinge

Commonly Planted with...

  • Karl Foerster feather reed grass
  • Coneflowers
  • Black-eyed Susans
  • Boxwood, for foliage-color contrast

Photos of This with...

Orange Rocket Barberry, Crimson Kisses Weigela
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/09 - 09/08
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!