Plant of the Week: Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis

Some plants just like the heat. Berberis is one of them.

Heat hasn't been a problem in Michigan (yet). We've had a cool, rainy spring so far. But we know that warmer days are coming. That's great for an afternoon on Lake Michigan but can be rough on some plants.

Barberry, however, thrives in full sun and plenty of heat. New to garden centers this year, Sunjoy Todo™ (pronounced tow-dough) is no exception. It has deep purple color that just grows richer as the August sun beats down on it.

With its semi-dwarf size and nice, consistent habit, this is an easy and responsible way to add durable color to hot, dry areas. As with other barberries, it has good deer resistance and will do best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis in flower

Sunjoy Todo™ barberry grows 1.5-2' tall and is hardy to USDA Zone 6. It's a semi-evergreen selection with really showy yellow flowers. Don't worry - the berries produced by these flowers do not have seeds. They are hollow!

Barberry rehabilitated.
It's easy to hate barberry; Berberis is considered invasive in many areas. And we don't want to plant things that will become a problem.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis

But barberry came to be a popular landscape plant because it is a really useful option for challenging sites. Heat, drought - even deer are not a problem for this plant. I'm thinking of some businesses I've seen on busy streets - they want a landscape but whatever is there needs to tolerate air pollution and general neglect. In goes the barberry.

So providing a non-invasive barberry for such conditions is something we're really proud of. We know some people have those difficult spaces to fill in their landscapes, or maybe they just want something colorful and durable for their yards. Let's use the plants that meet this need but don't cause problems for the environment.

It's not just barberry - if there's a problem plant in your area, see if there's a non-invasive alternative. If you're not sure, ask. Plant geeks love to help other plant geeks discover new plants!

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles