i believe it does have dormant buds.. which should trigger next spring ...

in the alternative.. you arent going to kill it thru pruning ...

its more just a question of how fast it will take to return to some new shape or form.. in your area ...

how long are the stubs .... perhaps you need to take more off?????

ken

It went down to about half the size it was a month or two ago, the top leafed out but the front / lower areas look a mess.

Barberry does have dormant buds low on the stems plus it tends to throw up suckers so yes, it will leaf out. The concern I have was the timing of the pruning. It was early enough that it re-leafed but late enough that all that new growth will probably get killed this winter. That took a lot of energy and consumed a lot of dormant buds. I suspect the top part will look a mess next spring until growth from the bottom part grows over it.

Energy stored in roots will replace the top, if the top is not repeatedly cut back down low at frequent intervals.