Citrus Sunjoy Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Koren' SUNJOY CITRUS)
BER-ber-iss thun-BER-jee-eye 'Koren' SUNJOY SIH-trus

Deciduous Perennial Mounded, Ball-Shaped Shrub in the Berberidaceae Family
Uniformly ball-shaped for low-maintenance hedge or specimen. Burn resistant even in full sun.
Sunjoy Citrus Japanese Barberry is a compact, deciduous shrub bred by Proven Winners for its bright lemon-yellow foliage, which holds its color through the heat of summer without scorching and deepens to a rich golden tone in fall. Small yellow flowers appear along the branches in spring, tucked among the foliage. The shrub grows into a naturally tidy, rounded, ball-shaped form and needs almost no pruning to keep its shape. Full sun brings out the brightest color and the best burn resistance, the trait this patented selection (US Plant Patent 24,818) was specifically bred and tested for.

Pros

  • Bright lemon-yellow foliage that resists sun scorch, deepening to gold in fall
  • Naturally compact, ball-shaped habit needs almost no pruning
  • Tolerant of heat, poor soil, and urban conditions once established
  • Deer-resistant thanks to its spiny branches

Cons

  • Sharp spines make pruning and handling difficult
  • Restricted from sale in several northeastern and midwestern states as invasive (not Illinois)
  • Susceptible to anthracnose, scale, and a few other pests
Highlights
  • Season-long bright yellow foliage with exceptional sun/heat tolerance
  • Compact, ball-shaped habit needs minimal pruning
  • Golden fall color
  • 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 Dry - Medium: Tolerant of infertile, dry soil once established; prefers well-drained conditions and dislikes standing water.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Erosion Control, Fall Color, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Non-Allergenic, 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 June
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Yellow
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

  • Purple-leaved barberries or ninebark, for foliage-color contrast
  • Ornamental grasses
  • Coneflowers or black-eyed Susans
  • Boxwood

Photos of This with...

Citrus Sunjoy Japanese Barberry, Dolce Appletini Coral Bells, Purple Chablis Spotted Dead Nettle,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 08/02 - 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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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!