Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea', the purple leaved Japanese barberry, is an ornamental selection valued for its purple foliage and its toughness.

Characteristics
A medium sized deciduous shrub reaching about 1.5-2 m in height and width, compact and rounded, with thorny, well branched stems. The small oval leaves emerge bright red in spring, become dark purple in summer and take on red-orange tones in autumn before falling. Small pale yellow cup shaped flowers open in clusters along the stems in spring, followed by shiny red berries that last into winter.

Growing and care
Full sun for the strongest leaf colour, in any well drained soil; very hardy, drought tolerant and tolerant of urban conditions. Prune in late winter to keep it shapely; it stands clipping well.

Uses
Defensive and mixed hedges, colour contrast in shrub borders, mass planting on banks and slopes, and containers.