Pollinator plant

Japanese barberry

Berberis thunbergii

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Common names

30 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Japanse berberis[4][6]
  • Zuurbes
French
  • Épine-vinette de Thunberg[4][6]
Afrikaans
  • Japanese Berberis[6]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 日本小檗[6]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 日本小檗[6]
Croatian
  • Thunbergova žutika[6]
Czech
  • dřišťál Thunbergův[6]
Danish
  • Hæk-berberis[6]
Estonian
  • Thunbergi kukerpuu[6]
Finnish
  • Japaninhappomarja[6]
German
Hungarian
  • japán borbolya[6]
Japanese
  • コトリトマラズ[6]
  • メギ[6]
  • 目木[6]
Korean
  • 일본매자나무[6]
Lithuanian
  • Tunbergo raugerškis[6]
Norwegian
  • høstberberis[6]
Polish
  • Berberys Thunberga[6]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Барбарис Тунберга[6]
Slovak
  • dráč Thunbergov[6]
Slovenian
  • Thunbergov češmin[6]
Spanish
Swedish
  • häckberberis[6]
Turkish
  • Bodur Kadıntuzluğu[6]
Ukrainian
  • Барбарис Тунберга[6]
Sources & name notes (6)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Berberis thunbergii — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Japanese Barberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunberg's Barberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Berberis thunbergii.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • Japanese barberry — Page 2, column 1, row top 487 pt; common-name cell after Berberis thunbergii.; Berberis thunbergii.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • Japanese barberry — Page 2, column 1, row top 382 pt; common-name cell after Berberis thunbergii.; Berberis thunbergii.
[4] Berberis thunbergii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese barberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunberg-Berberitze — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunberg's barberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Agracejo rojo — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Épine-vinette de Thunberg — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Japanse berberis — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • berbéris-vermelho — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
[5] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Berberis thunbergii ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese barberry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 166609; taxon LK9J.
  • Thunberg-Berberitze (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 166610; taxon LK9J.
[6] Berberis thunbergii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese barberry — results[13].names[2]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunberg-Berberitze — results[13].names[6]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunberg's barberry — results[13].names[3]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Agracejo rojo — results[13].names[5]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Épine-vinette de Thunberg — results[13].names[1]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Japanse berberis — results[13].names[11]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • berbéris-vermelho — results[13].names[23]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunbergova žutika — results[13].names[7]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Japaninhappomarja — results[13].names[8]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • dřišťál Thunbergův — results[13].names[9]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Hæk-berberis — results[13].names[10]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • høstberberis — results[13].names[12]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Барбарис Тунберга — results[13].names[13]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Tunbergo raugerškis — results[13].names[14]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • メギ — results[13].names[15]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • コトリトマラズ — results[13].names[16]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Berberys Thunberga — results[13].names[17]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • häckberberis — results[13].names[18]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • 日本小檗 — results[13].names[19]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • 日本小檗 — results[13].names[20]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunbergi kukerpuu — results[13].names[21]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • 일본매자나무 — results[13].names[22]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Thunbergov češmin — results[13].names[25]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Japanese Berberis — results[13].names[26]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Барбарис Тунберга — results[13].names[27]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • japán borbolya — results[13].names[28]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • 目木 — results[13].names[29]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • dráč Thunbergov — results[13].names[30]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
  • Bodur Kadıntuzluğu — results[13].names[31]; taxon id 58727; Berberis thunbergii.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Berberis thunbergii is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Berberidaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.22–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Oval; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry; Very Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Berberis thunbergii in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Native range
C. & S. Japan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a shrub. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Berberis thunbergii — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4995691; ID LK9J; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4995691; ID LK9J; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Berberis thunbergii — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Berberis thunbergii (top 382 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Berberis thunbergii (top 487 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Berberis thunbergii — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1327977; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1207909

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.