All beauty and no bother! Dr. Tom Ranney bred this handsome barberry, and it’s got more to it than just looks. Sunjoy Todo® is non-invasive and although it produces pretty fruit, the seeds inside are sterile! So you can rest easy and just enjoy the glossy, dark purple foliage, which is semi-evergreen in warmer climates.
Finding the right plants for your garden is crucial to achieving the garden of your dreams, and when it comes to plants that love the full sun (6+ hours of sun/day), there’s a wide variety of options to choose from. Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly.
Sunjoy Todo® Japanese Barberry is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has clusters of gold flowers hanging below the branches in late spring, which are interesting on close inspection. It has attractive deep purple foliage with hints of black which emerges red in spring.
We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase and confident in your gardening experience. Plants in healthy condition may be returned within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. Non-plant items may also be returned within 14 days if unused and in original packaging. At Chalet, we take pride in providing high-quality, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in your landscape.
Light: Requires full sun exposure, which is a minimum of six hours. Soils: Any average, well-drained soil will do. Will not tolerate any extended moisture. Water: Average water needs; quite drought tolerance once established. Fertilizing: Nothing special required; apply a granular fertilizer formulated for woody plants in early spring if desired. Pruning: Barberry needs little to no pruning, and that’s one of the things that people like about it. If you do wish to prune or trim, the best time to do that is in late spring/early summer, after the new growth for the season has emerged. Avoid cutting into any thick, woody stems that are thicker than pencil unless you are removing them completely. Other: Barberry has thorns. Agricultural restrictions prevent all barberry varieties from being sold in or shipped to CT, IN, MA, ME, NH, NY, OH, VT, WI, WV. A sterile barberry - not invasive like other types!
We gave this outstanding new barberry the name Sunjoy Todo because it really does have it all: deeply colorful glossy foliage, bright flowers, a neat and useful habit, and absolutely no worries about invasiveness. Like other barberries, it offers low-maintenance color to sunny spots and is highly resistant to deer. Sunjoy Todo barberry is also unlike other barberries in that it is semi-evergreen, keeping the leaves on the ends of its branches all year-round for a touch of four season interest. Though the golden spring blooms do develop red berries, there is no seed within, as proven in multiple rounds of university testing. This ground-breaking barberry will be available in garden centers in spring 2019.
Key traits and growing tips
- Sterile - not invasive like other types.
- Glossy, deep purple-black foliage for easy-care color.
- Naturally grows as a tight mound without pruning.
- Full Sun required (6+ hours) for best color; tolerates well-drained soil.
- Deer resistance helps maintain foliage through seasons.
- Semi-evergreen with year-round leaf presence in warmer climates.
- Non-invasive and sterile seeds reduce spread concerns.
Spacing and landscape use
Sunjoy Todo barberry is suited to borders, low hedges, or mass plantings. It naturally forms a neat, compact habit reaching about 1.5-2′ in height and width. The optimum sun exposure is Full Sun (6+ hours) with well-drained soil. It’s adaptable to various soil types but avoid extended moisture for best performance.
In terms of pruning, barberry does not require it to maintain its shape, but it may be trimmed in late spring or early summer if desired. Avoid cutting into thick woody stems, as recovery is slow from such cuts.
African deer pressure is a concern in some areas, but Sunjoy Todo is highly deer resistant, making it a reliable choice for sunlit gardens where deer browse is common. Note that agricultural restrictions prevent all barberry varieties from being sold in or shipped to several states; the sterile nature of Sunjoy Todo minimizes invasiveness, but availability may vary by region.
Care and maintenance summary
- Water: Average needs; drought tolerant once established.
- Fertilizing: Spring and mid-summer feeding with a fertilizer for woody plants if desired.
- Pruning: Minimal; trim only in late spring/early summer if necessary.
- Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerate a range of soil types.
- Sun: Requires full sun for best color.
Practical production notes: Orders placed before 11am ET ship the same day; orders placed after 11am ET ship the next day. Annual orders ship Monday - Wednesday; perennial, shrub, and hardgood orders ship Monday - Friday.
Additional context: availability and evaluation
We gave this outstanding new barberry the name Sunjoy Todo because it really does have it all: deeply colorful glossy foliage, bright flowers, a neat and useful habit, and absolutely no worries about invasiveness. Like other barberries, it offers low-maintenance color to sunny spots and is highly resistant to deer. The wide cross that resulted in its sterility also conferred deep purple glossy foliage that persists through the year, especially in warmer climates.
Sunjoy Todo is a compact shrub with a tidy habit, making it ideal for borders, low hedges, or mass plantings. It is USDA zones 4-8 and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. It is seedless and semi-evergreen, offering year-round color without the risk of spreading in non-native habitats.
Golden Barberry Shrub Changes Colors in Summer! #lowmaintenance #shrub
Top reasons to plant Sunjoy Todo
- Sterile - not invasive like other barberries.
- Glossy, deep purple foliage for easy-care color.
- Naturally grows as a tight mound without pruning.
- Deer resistant for reliable landscape performance.
Elevate your outdoor space with the Sunjoy Todo® barberry. Boasting glossy purple foliage, vibrant yellow flowers, and a tidy growth pattern, this non-invasive plant adds low-maintenance color to any sun-soaked area. Its semi-evergreen nature offers year-round interest, while its deer-resistant trait ensures long-lasting beauty. Pruning is optional and should be done in late spring or early summer if desired, avoiding thick woody stems.