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Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow'
Rose Glow Japanese barberry
Parent species {Berberis thunbergii} native to Japan; 'Rose Glow' is a cultivar of garden origin
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Overview
Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow' is a mounding deciduous shrub cultivar in the family Berberidaceae, reaching 4-5 feet (120-150 cm) tall and wide. The cultivar is selected from the purple-leaved forma atropurpurea for new growth that emerges deep burgundy mottled with pink, rose, and creamy-white — the variegated mottling on new spring growth is the defining ornamental trait. Mature leaves darken to a more uniform dark purple as they harden, and flushes of new growth through the season carry fresh variegation while the older foliage holds the dark purple base color. Leaves are small, spatulate, 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) long. Single sharp thorns occur at each leaf node. Small yellow bell-shaped flowers 0.25 inch (6 mm) across hang beneath the stems from April through May, largely concealed by foliage. Small red oblong berries 0.3 inch (8 mm) long ripen in fall and persist through winter on bare stems. Fall foliage turns orange-red. Growth is moderate. The pink-and-white mottling fades as leaves mature, and repeated light shearing in late spring stimulates flushes of colorful new growth — the cultivar tolerates this routine and produces fresh variegated foliage flushes through the season in response. Variegation is reduced in shade and the overall color shifts toward burgundy-green. The parent species B. thunbergii is classified as invasive in several northeastern and midwestern U.S. states where planting is prohibited or regulated. All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans if ingested because of berberine alkaloids concentrated in the bark, roots, and berries.
Native Range
Berberis thunbergii is native to Japan, where it grows on mountain slopes, forest margins, and rocky areas. The cultivar 'Rose Glow' arose in cultivation as a variegated selection from the purple-leaved forma atropurpurea and does not occur in wild populations. Birds consume the persistent red berries and disperse seeds into surrounding habitats, including seeds of named cultivars such as 'Rose Glow' which produce viable offspring although the variegated trait does not come true from seed.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen, mid-border accent, low informal hedge, or mass planting at 4-5 foot (120-150 cm) spacing in residential and commercial landscapes. The mottled pink-and-white new growth carries the central ornamental interest and makes the cultivar a foliage feature in mixed borders. Combined with chartreuse-foliaged Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame', golden Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold', or silver-foliaged Artemisia ludoviciana for color contrast in zones 4-8. Not suited to heavily shaded positions where variegation fades, jurisdictions where B. thunbergii is prohibited as invasive, positions adjacent to natural areas where bird-dispersed seedling escape is a concern, high-traffic pathways where the sharp thorns conflict with regular contact, or landscapes with pets or young children where the toxic berries pose an ingestion risk.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4' - 5'
Width/Spread4' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Small yellow bell-shaped flowers 0.25 inch (6 mm) across hang in small clusters beneath the stems from April through May, averaging 2-3 weeks of bloom. Flowers are largely concealed by foliage and are not an ornamental display. Red oblong berries 0.3 inch (8 mm) long ripen from September through October and persist on bare stems through winter after leaf drop.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow; small, 0.25 inch (6 mm) across, bell-shaped; hanging beneath the stems and largely concealed by foliageFoliage Description
new growth deep burgundy mottled with pink, rose, and creamy-white; mature leaves darken to dark purple; small spatulate leaves 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) long; orange-red in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5 in full sun where the variegation pattern holds most saturated. Tolerated soil types include loam, clay, sand, and silt. In part shade the variegation is reduced and the overall foliage color shifts toward burgundy-green. Water weekly through the first 1-2 growing seasons; established plants are very drought-tolerant. Light shearing in late spring stimulates flushes of mottled new growth and extends the variegated display through the summer. The species is classified as invasive in several northeastern and midwestern U.S. states and planting is regulated or prohibited in those jurisdictions; local invasive-species regulations govern whether the cultivar is legal to plant in a given area. All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Sharp thorns at each node cause puncture wounds during handling of stems and pruning debris.Pruning
Pruning is done after flowering (May through June). Light repeated shearing through the growing season stimulates flushes of mottled new growth that carry the cultivar's primary ornamental display. The cultivar tolerates hard shearing for formal hedge use, and hard renovation pruning to within 6 inches (15 cm) of the ground in early spring resets an overgrown specimen because the cultivar regenerates vigorously from the base. Sharp single thorns at each node cause frequent puncture wounds during handling of pruning debris.Pruning Schedule
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late spring