Crimson Ruby® Dwarf Red Barberry

Crimson Ruby® is a compact Japanese barberry cultivar grown for a dense mound of burgundy foliage that brightens to red in autumn. Its small scale suits the front of a sunny shrub border, a low hedge, or a container where its color can be seen up close. ## Form and Color The named cultivar is Berberis thunbergii ‘Criruzam’. [Monrovia’s Crimson Ruby profile](https://www.monrovia.com/crimson-ruby-japanese-barberry.html) describes a compact plant about 2 feet tall and wide, while [Campbell’s Nursery profile](https://www.campbellsnursery.com/product/landscapeplants/shrubs-and-roses/barberry-crimson-ruby/) highlights its dense growth and bronze-to-burgundy leaves that turn red in fall. Existing size values are consistent with that reported scale. ## Placement Give the shrub full sun for strong foliage color and use well-drained soil. Monrovia lists USDA zones 4–8. Barberries have thorny stems, so place this cultivar where its compact form will not crowd a narrow path. ## Seasonal Interest Its foliage supplies the main display, with a red autumn shift adding a second season of color. The cited cultivar profiles do not provide a dependable flowering schedule, so bloom timing is left unspecified. ## Maintenance Water regularly while it establishes, then water during prolonged dry weather. Allow room for its naturally dense mound; light corrective pruning can keep it within the intended border or container space.