'Corallina Compacta' is a dwarf evergreen shrub cultivar in the Berberidaceae (barberry) family. This shrub grows to about 1.5 feet tall and wide with narrow leaves and showy yellow-orange flowers in the spring. In fall it has dark purple fruits.It has spine-tipped branches. This plant tolerates most soils except wet heavy clay and does best in full sun but tolerates light shade. It is drought tolerant once established. Use in the border, in pots, in small spaces, rock gardens or as a barrier to foot traffic. It is also used in bonsai. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Powdery mildew may occur. Spines VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Berberis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBerberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea'Canna
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Small narrow elliptic to linear yellow-green to green leaves with revolute margins (roll under). New growth is red-tinged
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Bright yellow to orange flowers bloom in dangling clusters in spring