Looks to be a barberry - "Crimson Pygmy" perhaps. Is it thorny?

Thanks, you are correct!

Does anyone know of anything similar that doesn't have thorns?

if there was .. who would buy this ...lol ... its purple leafed market would dry up in days ....

my dad planted them next to the garage.. then put up a b-ball net for me.. what was that all about ...

all that said.. it require NOTHING in the way of maintenance.. what difference do the thorns make.. other than b-ball???

ken

I don't find the thorns problematic - I'm not walking into them and they don't need a lot of pruning maintenance. If mine ever did or caught a few errant weeds around it, I'd resort to my collection of gardening gloves. This is one shrub that holds its color all year round; not just in the fall. Deer and rabbits hate it.

Thanks all. Sounds like I might give these a try!

Question; do they really hold their color all year round, or do they lose their leaves in the winter? I'm in CT.

Clarification, they are deciduous - but how long they hold onto their leaves likely depends on where you are. Mine were already "crimson" and in full leaf when the snow melted.

Best color is achieved in full sun locations; will fade to an attractive green with touches of burgundy in shady spots.

I use them as accents, not as hedging or front row specimens and because of our early onset winters and snowfalls, I've never seen mine not red or without leaves. YMMV.

Truth be told - I pick up mine at Walmart. I don't have to buy on the cheap, but who doesn't love a bargain? Walmart's don't come nicely rounded and somewhat mature like the one in your picture - you might need a good nursery for that look right off the bat.

Thanks. Mine would be for accents as well. The location gets a lot of sun in the morning, but by 10 or 11 am it's all shade for the rest of the day.

Also, the picture above was a neighbor of my parents, I don't expect them to look like that right off the bat if we do get them.