Japanese barberry (Berberis 'Tara' EMERALD CAROUSEL)
This low-maintenance Japanese barberry, Berberis 'Tara' EMERALD CAROUSEL, is a rounded deciduous shrub offering spring yellow blooms and bright red fall berries.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL, commonly known as Japanese barberry, is a highly desirable addition to modern landscapes due to its adaptability and year-round interest. This cultivar is a cross between B. Thunbergii and B. Koreana, resulting in a robust, rounded habit combined with excellent winter hardiness. Gardeners appreciate its multi-season appeal provided by emerging yellowish foliage in spring, dark green summer color, fiery red autumn transformation, and persistent bright red berries.
This deciduous shrub offers a fantastic textural element, maturing typically between 3 to 5 feet in both height and spread. As a low-maintenance choice, Japanese barberry thrives best when given full sun, which maximizes its foliage color development, though it can withstand light shade. It excels as a functional planting where sharp thorns act as a natural deterrent, perfect for low borders or property demarcation.
Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL is an incredibly adaptable plant, easily tolerating many urban pollutants while maintaining its structure. While it handles dry conditions well once established, proper drainage is crucial to its long-term success. Its manageable size and striking seasonal changes make the Japanese barberry a cornerstone for creating structured, relatively hands-off garden designs.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Berberidaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-5 ft
- Spread: 3-5 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal establishment, plant Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL in the spring or fall when conditions are cooler. This shrub flourishes in average, dry to medium soils, provided they offer good drainage; avoid areas where water pools, as wet roots are quickly detrimental. Full sun is recommended to achieve the best foliage color, although light shade is tolerated, resulting in greener summer leaves.
Watering should be consistent during the first growing season to help the root system establish deeply. After establishment, the drought tolerance of Japanese barberry becomes evident, requiring minimal supplemental watering unless experiencing prolonged, extreme dry spells. Fertilizer is generally unnecessary for this adaptable plant, though a light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring can benefit older plants struggling in very poor soil.
Pruning Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL is primarily optional, aimed at maintaining shape or size, as it naturally grows into a rounded form. If shaping into a formal hedge is desired, prune lightly in late winter before new growth starts. Be mindful of the sharp thorns when performing any trimming maintenance. This tough shrub handles the pollutants common in urban environments well.
Landscape Uses
The primary recommendation for Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL is use as an Informal hedge, where its tight, rounded habit provides an excellent, low-growing visual screen or border element. Its thorny nature makes it particularly effective when deployed as a sturdy barrier plant placed strategically near pathways or beneath low windows to deter unwanted foot traffic.
Beyond hedging, the Japanese barberry functions admirably as a formal foundation plant, providing structure near buildings without overwhelming the architecture, given its modest 3-5 foot maximum height. Incorporate it into a mixed shrub border to provide textural contrast against fine-leaved or broadleaf evergreens. Its seasonal color shows beautifully against subdued backgrounds like gray stone or muted green conifers.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Berberis is a genus of about 450 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs from all parts of the North Hemisphere as well as North and tropical Africa and South America. Genus name comes from the Latinized form of the Arabian name for the fruit. ‘Tara’, commonly sold as EMERALD CAROUSEL, is a cross between B. Thunbergii and B. Koreana, exhibiting the broad, rounded habit of the former and excellent winter hardiness of the latter. This fast-growing, deciduous, multi-stemmed, rounded shrub features sharp thorns and glossy, bright red berries that persist well into winter, long after the leaves have dropped.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Clay Soil
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
This plant is praised for having no serious insect or disease problems that warrant intense management. However, like most barberry varieties, Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL has a tendency to trap wind-blown litter, such as leaves and small twigs within its dense, thorny structure. This trapped debris should be manually removed periodically, particularly in the fall, to ensure good air circulation and prevent potential fungal issues from developing in trapped moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Japanese barberry suitable for?
Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL is hardy and performs best when planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 7.
How large does Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL grow?
This deciduous shrub typically reaches a mature height between 3 to 5 feet, with a similar spread of 3 to 5 feet wide, maintaining a nicely rounded shape.
What sun exposure does Japanese barberry need?
For the best possible foliage color and overall health, plant Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL in a location receiving full sun daily.
When does Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL bloom?
This shrub produces its small, yellowish flowers annually from April into May, contributing early spring color.
Conclusion
The Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL offers unparalleled reliability as a tough, low-maintenance foundation or border plant, easily handling adverse conditions like drought and clay soil. Its structure, thorns, and seasonal fruit display confirm why Japanese barberry cultivars remain popular staples in landscape design. Before planting this season, ensure your intended location provides the required full sun and excellent drainage for your new Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL.
Companion Planting
When designing a border featuring this upright shrub, consider companions that contrast its finer leaf texture and seasonal color palette. Evergreens such as Dwarf Alberta Spruce or dense Junipers provide excellent deep green backdrops that make the red fall color and berries of the Japanese barberry truly pop. For lower plantings, groundcovers like creeping Thyme or Sedum varieties thrive in the dry, sunny conditions preferred by Berberis ‘Tara’ EMERALD CAROUSEL, ensuring you cover the soil effectively.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the ideal time to inspect the plant for any overwintering debris caught in the thorns and perform any necessary light shaping, ideally before new growth begins flushing out in April and May. During the summer months, focus on observation; if rainfall is scarce, provide deep watering to support the drought-tolerant shrub. In autumn, appreciate the brilliant red foliage transition, knowing that unlike many deciduous plants, the glossy red berries of the Japanese barberry will persist into the winter months, offering textural contrast against snow.
