Although berberis thunbergii is often used as a prickly low hedge its green foliage yellow spring blooms and red autumn berries also make for a great specimen plant this barberry is particularly eye45catching when its deciduous leaves turn firey shades of gold orange and red before falling to the ground this colourful display in addition to the hardy shrub39s spreading ability and resilient nature make it easy to see why berberis thunbergii is used to breed many popular cultivars