{"product_id":"crimson-pygmy-barberry","title":"Crimson Pygmy Barberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Classic Dwarf Burgundy Barberry\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrimson Pygmy Barberry (\u003cem\u003eBerberis thunbergii\u003c\/em\u003e 'Crimson Pygmy') is the time-tested dwarf that made purple-leaved shrubs a landscape staple. Its dense, mounded habit stays naturally compact, clothed in rich reddish-purple foliage that deepens to crimson in fall. Reliable, thorny, deer-resistant, and drought-tough, it's the go-to color anchor for foundation beds and low hedges in Woodbury, Plymouth, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBerberis thunbergii\u003c\/em\u003e 'Crimson Pygmy'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5–2 ft tall, 2–3 ft wide (dwarf)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4–8 (hardy across most of Minnesota)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (best color); tolerates part sun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReddish-purple, crimson in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWell-drained; tolerates poor, dry soils\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Traits\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer resistant, drought tolerant, dwarf\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrimson Pygmy is a workhorse for low hedges, foundation edging, and mass plantings where you want dependable dark color. It contrasts beautifully with gold and green foliage, and the thorny stems deter deer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring or early fall, when cool weather and steady moisture help the roots establish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the stems. Full sun keeps the burgundy color richest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWatering\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish the roots.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter Year One:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water only during extended dry spells. It's very drought tolerant once established.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrip Irrigation:\u003c\/strong\u003e A drip line provides efficient, low-water moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does Crimson Pygmy get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's a dwarf, maturing around 1.5–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it hardy in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it's hardy to Zone 4 and is a long-proven performer across the state.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the thorny stems make it reliably deer resistant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFull sun keeps the purple deepest; in shade the foliage turns greenish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePair Crimson Pygmy with gold and coral barberries and our other compact, deer-resistant shrubs for a high-contrast, low-care border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Crimson Pygmy Barberries Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low edging hedge or mass planting, space plants 2 feet apart so the dwarf mounds knit into a continuous burgundy band:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants Needed (2 ft spacing)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an accent, plant groups of 3 spaced 2 feet apart against gold or green foliage for the strongest contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCrimson Pygmy Barberry Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small reddish-purple leaves emerge early; tiny yellow flowers appear along the thorny stems but the foliage is the show.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, tidy burgundy mound that holds its color through heat and drought — deepest purple in full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage intensifies to bright crimson, one of the richest fall colors in any dwarf shrub.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves drop to reveal a compact, thorny twig structure that holds snow attractively and shrugs off zone-4 cold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-nugget-barberry\"\u003eGolden Nugget Barberry\u003c\/a\u003e — the classic gold-on-burgundy contrast at the same dwarf scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/orange-rocket-barberry\"\u003eOrange Rocket Barberry\u003c\/a\u003e — an upright coral-orange exclamation point behind the low crimson mounds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/concorde-barberry\"\u003eConcorde Barberry\u003c\/a\u003e — a deeper violet-purple dwarf for a tone-on-tone burgundy border.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/goldfinger-potentilla\"\u003eGoldfinger Potentilla\u003c\/a\u003e — thornless yellow summer bloom that pops against the dark foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Crimson Pygmy Barberry Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrimson Pygmy thrives in full sun on well-drained — even poor, dry — soil, and its thorns make it one of the most dependable choices for deer-heavy neighborhoods. Keep it where its 2–3-foot spread fits: edging, low hedges, and foundation fronts. It's not a fit for shady beds (the burgundy fades to green) or soggy ground. One planning note: Japanese barberry is being phased out for sale in Minnesota — existing plantings are unaffected, but if you're building a long hedge you may want extra plants now or consider a ninebark alternative for future expansion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54305709588785,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54305709621553,"sku":null,"price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/crimson-pygmy-barberry.jpg?v=1779567570","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/crimson-pygmy-barberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}