Orange Rocket Barberry

The Orange Rocket Barberry from the Southern Living Plant Collection takes landscapes and gardens to new heights! During spring, young foliage emerges as a vivid coral. This soft foliage gradually matures through Summer becoming a showy scarlet-red that truly ‘pops.’ Afterwards, the Orange Rocket features one more color change before the winter sets in. You’ll see the characteristic scarlet-red leaves age to an elegant ruby red, adding additional vivid red hues to your fall landscape. With the onset of winter, this deciduous shrub will drop all of its leaves, and wait patiently for the return of warm weather.

Once established, this fast growing plant proves itself to be quite hardy, and is noted as being deer resistant. Additionally, low water requirements make it perfect for Xeriscape gardens.

The Orange Rocket grows in a column-like pattern that traditionally reaches around 4′ tall and 1 ½ feet wide. This naturally vertical growth habit presents unique opportunities in the landscape. While horizontal growth can steer the eye over a landscape, vertical growth gives the eye a reason to pause and absorb the colors and textures of the scene presenting itself.

This barberry shines as a border, slope plant, mass planting, or container. Furthermore, the characteristically bold foliage and vertical habit give this shrub the chance to create unique and interesting contrasts. Try it with brilliantly colored plants such as the Everillo Carex, the Sunshine Ligustrum, or Lemon Lime Nandina. Check out a mixed container garden project from Southern Living Plants featuring the Orange Rocket Barberry.

Orange Rocket Barberry Care

Hardy from Zones 5-9.

Choose a location in Full Sun to Part Shade for best results.

Plant in well-draining soil. Poorly draining, perpetually wet soil will generally lead to root rot.

Water regularly for the first few months after planting. This will allow it to establish deep roots, where it will be able to draw water in times of drought. After establishing itself, though, the Orange Rocket Barberry needs little supplementary water.

Spacing Your Orange Rocket Barberry 

For hedges or mass plantings, plant the bushes 2.5-3 feet apart. For space between shrubs space 3+ feet apart.