The WorryFree® group was created from the invasive Japanese barberry, developed and tested by Dr. Brand of the University of Connecticut. These are sterile or near sterile, nonfruiting tetraploids. They are in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). The group includes 4 cultivars: Crimson Cutie® (UCONNBTCP4N), Lemon Cutie® (UCONNBTB113), Lemon Glow® (UCONNBTB048) and Mr. Green Genes® (UCONNBTB039). These small, rounded shrubs are 1 to 2.5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. They prefer any well-drained garden soil in full sun to partial shade. Minimal pruning is needed. They are deer- and drought-tolerant. The leaves can be yellow to green to red in this series. Flowers are yellow and are followed by red berries, but these shrubs are grown more for the foliage. The stems are spiny. Use them in a border, as a low hedge or in containers. These cultivars are not invasive, nor can they interbreed with other barberries. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Anthracnose, root rot, bacterial leaf spot, wilt, scale, barberry webworm, and aphids are possible. More information on Berberis thunbergii .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withBerberis thunbergii Sunjoy® Group
Fills a similar nicheCascabela thevetiaLigustrum Golden Ticket® 'NCLX1'Physocarpus opulifolius Tiny Wine® 'SMNPOTWG'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The small oval leaves for this series of plants are red, green or yellow
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small yellow flowers in spring in dangling short clusters