Crimson Cutie® Barberry
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WorryFree Promise
Hardiness
Water Resilience
Light Flexibility
Compactness
Disease Resistance
Insect Resistance
Deer Resistance
Special Features
Attracts Wildlife
Low Maintenance
Sustainable
Great for Small Spaces
Good for Containers
Crimson Cutie® Barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'UCONNBTCP4N' PP 30,095
Shrub
Height 2-3'
Spread 3-4'
Description
Crimson Cutie' is a sterile barberry developed by UConn that won't spread invasively. It features glossy foliage that shifts colors from summer to fall, growing into a dense, rounded mound that never needs pruning. Deer avoid its thorny branches. It thrives in heat, drought, poor soil, and polluted urban areas. Its small size is perfect for walkways, borders, or container focal points.
Plant Care
Water
Keep soil on drier side. Drought tolerant once established
Fertilizer
Early spring, just before new growth starts. Use minimal, balanced, slow release, granular fertlizer like 10-10-10
Pruning
No need to prune since it’s a naturally compact, mounded shape that stays tidy on its own.
Seasons of Interest
Spring
The shrub awakens with glossy, leathery purple-red foliage. It produces tiny clusters of yellow, bell-shaped blossoms. While these are small, they are a vital early food source for pollinators.
Summer
Leaves deepen into a rich, dark burgundy or deep purple-red. Because this cultivar is heat-tolerant, it retains this deep color even in high temps.
Fall
The summer burgundy transforms into a spectacular, vibrant orange-red or dark red.
Winter
Its dense, mounding habit and thorny stems provide architectural structure in the landscape and continue to serve as a natural barrier to deer
