It's deciduous - even in zone 9. Some Berberis look great in winter (Admiration is covered in red berries for instance). I wouldn't say that this one looks 'great all year'. I don't object to the barbed-wire look of leafless Berberis, but it isn't going to be a focal point!

Not really looking for a focal point. Just something to go in front of my Zhu Zhu Loropetalum.

That would be great paired with the loropetalums! I really like japanese barberry. I have one of the 'helmond pillar' in my front yard. Those thorns hurt though.

I think that it would provide nice color contrast. gardengal's suggestions would also work well.

I'm tempted to use Sunshine Ligustrum, Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold', or Nandina 'Lemon Lime' (which looks yellow at one nursery and green at a different nursery), or a particular yellowy boxwood that I didn't take a photo of the actual name.

Any thoughts on those?? I like the froofy look of the Coleonema but I'm afraid it'll spread too far. :(

sunshine ligustrum is new, and I am waiting to see if it becomes a reseeding nightmare like all other ligustrum. Nandina 'Lemon Lime' would work well. See the link below, berkmans gold tipped arborvitae.

==>>>https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=635&tbm=isch&q=berkmans+gold+arborvitae&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqi7bS5_TOAhUJKiYKHdqeDS0QvwUIJygA

The colomnea can become problematic, spreading into your yard and making a mess. If you would like something lower growing similar to the colomnea, maybe golden mop cypress.

==>>>https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=golden+mop+cypress&oq=golden+mop+cypress&gs_l=img.3...196503.200861.0.201131.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0.TCE-j7IdJ6o#imgrc=_

Sunshine Ligustrum is advertised to be sterile and a non-reseeder. I just can't decide if the leaf shape/pattern and texture of the whole thing is too similar to Loropetalum. I'd like a different texture.

Off to take a look at the other 2.

Bradford pear was also marketed as sterile in it's early days. Now look at it.

I like both 'Sushine' and 'Lemon Lime'

I also like nandina 'lemon lime'. I would be afraid to plant the sunshine ligustrum just because it is a type of chinese privet. Sunshine has only been available for a year or two, who knows if it's really stable?

Went with Nandina, but didn't go with Lemon Lime. I went with Moon Bay for size. Although, I got home and realized this one flowers/has berries. I didn't want that. Maybe I should exchange for Firepower?

Also bought some Moonbeam Threadleaf Tickseed for texture and it's yellow flowers.

Or maybe I should go back to Lemon Lime. GAH!

Firepower wouldn't really look well paired loropetalum. I would go with 'lemon lime'. If these are kept formally pruned, none should get the flowers and berries (at least my regular nandina domestica doesn't)

How on earth does one 'formally prune' a Nandina?

with my wonderful electric hedge trimmers of course! The "natural form" looks weedy. I don't like the flowers and berries. Check out my complete guide to nandina bushes. Also, I have a similar guide on how to "formally prune" forsythia. You seem not to like the idea of formal landscaping, which I don't quite understand.

==>>> https://caldwellhg.blogspot.com/2016/07/our-complete-guide-to-nandina-bushes.html

Being a very short complete guide, it covers only the basics.

I sell nandina 'firepower' and nandina 'helmons red' not to mention the regular nandina domestica. They are truly a southern staple, and really easy money.

Oy...I am speechless.

LOL!! Probably the worst instructions for how to prune a nandina I have ever encountered!! Nandina is a caning shrub and any pruning required - usually none is necessary unless the plants quite old and established and have developed "bare legs" - is addressed by removing the old canes at the base of the plant. Nandina is not a formal looking plant under any circumstances and shearing one into looking like a round ball of boxwood just destroys the natural growth habit of the plant. If you want a formal looking plant, pick a formal looking plant to begin with!!

AS, 'Moon Bay' is not as inclined to flower and berry as many other forms of nandina. This seems to be a trait shared by many of the 'dwarf ' cultivars. And it does produce great leaf color which should compliment the loropetalum. If it starts to form flower buds that you do not want, it is a pretty simple process to just snip them off.

I guess it is a wasted to effort to point out that nandina is listed as a "significant invasive threat" in NC :-))

"significant threat" should be changed to something like watchlist. I have nothing against others choosing to keep the natural shape, I just prefer them sheared. There are not very many affective alternatives to a nandina.