I have two different barberry shrubs that I got just about a year ago and I put them into planters.

While both plants did well, they appeared completely stagnant...no new growth or even lengthening of their existing branches....until literally about three weeks ago.

Is this normal for them to get a sudden spurt...maybe they do so around this time of year?

Also, on one of the plants in particular, the new growth looks totally different in form, and color. The bulk of the plant is dark green, though I'm pretty sure during the Fall it turns red. With this new growth,the shoots went straight up (versus rambling like the older growth) and in addition, the new shoots immediately came out in reddish tones (versus green).

Is this ok or should I for some reason be pruning off this new growth?

Tx!