One of the older dwarf, red foliage cultivars. Life History. 2019 Status in Maine: Widespread.Severely Invasive. Japanese barberry definition: a thorny barberry , Berberis thunbergii , of Japan , having yellow flowers and bearing... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples 1). The invasive Japanese barberry isn’t attracting another invasive pest, but a pest that many Pennsylvanians try to avoid all year -- ticks. It grows three to six feet tall and spreads four to seven feet. Origin Japanese barberry was introduced to New England as an ornamental plant in 1875 in the form of seeds sent from Russia to the Arnold Arboretum. 'Crimson Pygmy' - A slow-growing, red leaf form with a mounding, dense habit. This shrub grows slowly but transplants easily. 'Bogozam' (Bananza Gold™) - A dwarf, golden pygmy barberry with a dense mounding habit. Description: Perennial, deciduous shrub, up to 6' tall and wide, though typically smallery, usually very branched.Branches can root at the tip. About the Japanese Barberry The plant tolerates most light exposures and soils, but purple-leaved cultivars turn green in shade. For example, the tree of heaven is the preferred host plant for the spotted lanternfly -- meaning the spotted lanternfly prefers to reproduce on this tree. Japanese barberry is thorny, so it's useful for barrier plantings (Fig. Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii. In 1896, barberry shrubs grown from these seeds were planted at the New York Botanic Garden. Japanese barberry reproduces from prolific seeds, rhizomes, or layering. Japanese barberry can be sheared and used as a hedge plant. Canes have a sharp, ~ 1 ⁄ 3" spine at each leaf axil. Seeds have a germination rate as high as 90%, and are distributed by birds including ruffed grouse, bobwhite, pheasant, and wild turkey. Bright gold foliage does not scald in sun. Grows 1.5' to 2' tall and 2' to 2.5' wide. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a hardy deciduous shrub, meaning it drops its leaves at the end of the growing season.While it's considered an invasive species in parts of North America due to its tolerance for many growing conditions and ability to outcompete native plants, it's still commonly grow as a landscape plant.