A Sterile and Non-Invasive Barberry
Enjoy the low-maintenance color of a barberry, not the spreading! Sunjoy Todo® barberry (Berberis x) is one of our InCheck sterile varieties, offering all the benefits you want from this shrub but without any of the risk.
Sunjoy Todo barberry’s attractive appearance comes from its glossy purple foliage. A great contrast to surrounding plants, the dark semi-evergreen leaves maintain their color through the year and are accompanied in spring by yellow-orange flowers. These blooms develop into fruit; however, unlike other barberries, the seeds produced are hollow and non-viable, making this a sterile alternative.
Sunjoy Todo barberry is suited to USDA zones 4-8. It is sun-loving, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for its best color. Feel free to plant it in any well-draining soil, as it is highly adaptable, but try to avoid any extended moisture. This compact shrub grows in a tidy, neat habit, reaching a height and width of 1.5-2′. It works well for borders, low hedges, or mass plantings. Barberry typically does not need pruning; still, if you do wish to give it a trim, do so in late spring or early summer. Make sure you are careful when handling this plant, as barberry has thorns.
Note: Even though Sunjoy Todo barberry is sterile and non-invasive, it has not yet been approved for sale in states where it is banned. We are working on it, but in the meantime, it is not available in CT, IN, MA, ME, NH, NY, OH, VT, WI, WV. Proven Winners ColorChoice barberries are not available in Canada.
Oh Deer!
Many people select barberry for its natural resistance to deer, a trait that helps preserve its gorgeously colored foliage throughout the season. However, if barberry just isn’t for you, you can still stay protected! The resources below offer recommendations and information on all of our deer-resistant shrubs:
- “14 Deer Resistant Shrubs” written by Samantha Huisman
- Discover Deer Proof Shrubs
- Deer Resistant Native Shrubs
- Top 10 Deer Resistant Shrubs