Berberis thunbergii 'Green Carpet'
Overall Description
An
improved form of the original Green Barberry. An arching, dense shrub
with broadly oval pale to midgreen leaves turning brilliant orange-red
in the fall. Small red tinged, pale yellow flowers in mid-spring are
followed by bright red, egg-shaped fruits. Very hardy shrub. Can be
pruned/sheared to desired height/shape. An abundance of sharp, spiny thorns help make Green Barberry a great choice for a natural fence / barrier planting - plant these guys about 3 feet apart for a nice little barrier that is virtually impossible to get through.........even in winter!
Extremely hardy, with good cold hardiness - and little, if any maintenance needed. Can be maintained in a very neat, formal shape / manner through occasional trimmings throughout the growing season.
Plant Facts & Specifications
Mature Height: 4-6 ft
Mature Width: 4-6 ft
Growth rate: Moderate ( 6"-10" avg per yr )
Hardiness Zones: 4-9 ( if unsure of your zone, please use zone finder below )
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade - best growth rate in sunny spots
Soil Preference: Average, slightly moist - well drained. Will adapt to a wider variety of soils than most Barberry.
Foliage Color & Texture: Small
rounded leaves with good green color in sunny locations. Fall color is bright orange / red.
Branches are generously covered in very sharp, spiny barbs. Many times newer growth will have just a hint of a reddish tinge.......very nice.
Flower, Cone, Or Berry Facts: Small
white flowers can be observed in little clusters beginning in early
April, and lasting well through the end of May. Exact flowering time
will vary, depending on your area of the country - the warmer your
climate, the earlier you will see them. Small 1/4" long bright red,
oval shaped seed pods can be easily seen on Green Carpet Barberry in
late fall, after the leaves have dropped. Each bright red seed pod has
one seed in it, and will remain on the shrub throughout the
winter....giving it a very nice winter appearance as well.
Diseases / Insects: Usually
barberries have little or no trouble at all under normal landscape
conditions, but some of the possible noted pests / diseases that could
be encountered are: Bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, root rots, rusts
(Japanese Barberry is not susceptible), wilt, barberry aphid, barberry
webworm, and possibly scale.
Fertilization / Feeding: Either
water
soluble ( Miracle Gro, or equivalent ), or granular all purpose tree
& shrub fertilizer is recommended for regular maintenance type
feedings. Other granular types with 6-12-12, or 10-10-10 ratio is
acceptable. Best to begin a regular scheduled feeding / fertilizing
schedule in very early spring ( upon discovering new bud break ), and
to continue regular weekly feedings through the entire spring season,
up until early summer -
avoid feeding during hot summer months, and directly after
transplanting. Another shorter feeding schedule can be resumed again in
very late summer through mid fall if desired to give the plants another
quick burst of nutrition, but usually not necessary. 
