Plant Encyclopedia
shrub

Emerald Carousel Barberry

Berberis 'Tara'

Add To My Plant List

 
Emerald Carousel Barberry (Berberis 'Tara') at The Green Spot Home & Garden

Emerald Carousel Barberry

Emerald Carousel Barberry

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Emerald Carousel Barberry (Berberis 'Tara') at The Green Spot Home & Garden

Emerald Carousel Barberry flowers

Emerald Carousel Barberry flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Emerald Carousel Barberry (Berberis 'Tara') at The Green Spot Home & Garden

Emerald Carousel Barberry in fall

Emerald Carousel Barberry in fall

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  5 feet

Spread:  6 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  3b

Description:

A wide, arching shrub with reddish fall color and shapely growth habit; great for small to medium sized hedges, forms an impenetrable barrier

Ornamental Features

Emerald Carousel Barberry is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The fruits are showy red drupes carried in abundance from early to late fall. It has clusters of yellow flowers hanging below the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The oval leaves turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Emerald Carousel Barberry is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Spiny

Emerald Carousel Barberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Emerald Carousel Barberry will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Fall Color  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features