Sunjoy Fast Neo Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Sunjoy Fast Neo')
BER-ber-iss thun-BER-jee-eye 'Sunjoy Fast Neo'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Vigorous Shrub in the Berberidaceae Family
A vigorous, fast-establishing barberry with deeply saturated red foliage, growing larger and quicker than other Sunjoy varieties.
Sunjoy Fast Neo Japanese Barberry is a vigorous deciduous shrub bred by Dr. Tom Ranney for its rapid establishment and richly saturated red foliage layered with green. It grows a robust root system and reaches a larger mature size than its sibling Sunjoy Neo, making it a quick-filling choice for hedges and borders. Small yellow flowers appear on old wood in spring. Full sun brings out its deepest color, and this patented selection (US Plant Patent 37,165) needs only light shaping to keep its naturally upright, full form.

Pros

  • Fast-establishing with a robust root system, quicker to fill in than most barberries
  • Richly saturated red foliage layered with green
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Deer-resistant thanks to its spiny branches

Cons

  • Sharp, thorny stems require care when placing and handling
  • Grows larger than most Sunjoy varieties (3-5 ft), so needs more room
  • Susceptible to anthracnose, scale, and a few other pests
Highlights
  • Fast establishment and vigorous growth
  • Deeply saturated red-and-green foliage
  • Larger mature size than other Sunjoy varieties
  • Deer resistant
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 5 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought-tolerant once established; prefers well-drained soil and moderate moisture.
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Fast Growth Rate, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Thorns, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April To May
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Red And Green
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Pricing and Availability History

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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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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!