Berberis
Barberry
- Height × spread
- 0.3m – 4m × 0.3m – 4.5m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally all year, largest selection in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Distinctive prickly foliage in eye-catching colours with ornamental berries, a versatile shrub to suit every garden. Clusters of bright orange or yellow flowers are borne in spring and small fruits follow in autumn. A magnet for wildlife, it's enjoyed by pollinators and birds alike. There is a range of sizes available, from dwarf ones for pots to large border plants and hedges. Some are evergreen.
- Flower colour
- Orange, Red, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Brown, Cream, Gold, Green, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Silver, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Black, Blue, Grey, Pink, Purple, Red, White
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cone, Dome, Fan, Round, Weeping
- Height
- 0.3m – 4m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 4.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Scented garden, Rock garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry and shady soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Hedge, Topiary, Ground cover, Screening, Structural, Coloured stems, Architectural, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, some leaves & stems are prickly/thorny
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Found in
More Berberis
Berberis 'Golden Dream'
Barberry
Berberis candidula
Whitish barberry, Paleleaf barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis linearifolia 'Orange King'
Narrow-leaved berberis
Berberis microphylla 'Pygmaea'
Dwarf Magellan barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry