Barberry is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its late spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
5.5-7.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Barberry on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether barberry actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score barberry against your land's real conditions.
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What Barberry is
Barberry grows as a perennial and reaches around five feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in late spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Barberry
Barberry grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Barberry does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.2. It needs about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-28°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant barberry in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Barberry prefers pH 5.5 to 7.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Keep it in good form
Prune barberry to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — barberry is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Barberry offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Barberry thrives
Barberry is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Barberry growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Barberry can grow in these states:
See if Barberry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether barberry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Barberry in my zone?
Barberry grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Barberry?
Most growers plant barberry after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Barberry need?
Barberry needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Barberry need?
Barberry prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Barberry attract pollinators?
Yes — barberry's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Barberry safe for pets?
Barberry is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.