Sunjoy Mini Maroon Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'NCBT1' SUNJOY MINI MAROON)
BER-ber-iss thun-BER-jee-eye 'NCBT1' SUNJOY MINI MAROON

Deciduous Perennial Dense, Compact, Mounded Shrub in the Berberidaceae Family
A sterile, non-invasive barberry with rich deep purple-red foliage on a dense, compact mound that needs no pruning.
Sunjoy Mini Maroon Japanese Barberry is a compact, deciduous shrub bred by Proven Winners for its deep purple-red foliage, which holds its color from spring through fall frost. Unlike most Japanese barberries, this patented selection is sterile and does not set the seed that lets older varieties spread into wild areas, making it a non-invasive alternative to the straight species. It grows into a naturally dense, mounded form that needs no pruning to stay compact. Full sun brings out its deepest color.

Pros

  • Deep purple-red foliage that holds its color from spring through fall
  • Sterile and non-invasive, unlike most Japanese barberries
  • Naturally dense, mounded habit needs no pruning
  • Deer-resistant and easy-care

Cons

  • Sharp spines make handling difficult
  • Avoid cutting thick woody stems; recovery from hard pruning is slow
  • Susceptible to anthracnose, scale, and a few other pests
Highlights
  • Season-long deep purple-red color
  • Sterile, non-invasive selection
  • Compact, no-prune habit
  • Deer resistant
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Average water needs once established; prefers well-drained soil and dislikes standing water.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Edging, Erosion Control, Foundation, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Thorns, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April To May
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Deep Purple-Red
 

Most Popular Plants

Commonly Planted with...

  • Ornamental grasses
  • Coneflowers or black-eyed Susans
  • Yellow- or chartreuse-leaved shrubs, for foliage-color contrast
  • Boxwood
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 08/10 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 05/04
2023 : 07/19 - 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.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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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!