Plant Profile Barberry (Berberis)
Growing, Selecting and Caring For Barberry Shrubs
Barberry shrubs are widely used in garden landscapes because of the attractive foliage, fragrant flowers and deer resistant thorny stems. See how to care for the shrubs.
Botanical and Common Name: The Berberis species is usually called Barberry.
Plant Category: Barberry plants are woody, deciduous shrubs.
Bloom Time and Color: Barberry shrubs have ornamental yellow flowers in the spring that are usually fragrant. The flowers dangle below the stem in pretty, tear-drop like fashion.
Foliage: Barberry shrub foliage is usually fine textured with small, oval shaped leaves. The foliage is highly attractive and depending on the berberis cultivar, bright green, burgundy and variegated options are all available.
Growth Habit: Barberry grows in a semi-spreading fashion with many stems and branches that tend to gently arch back towards the ground.
Dimensions: Most barberry shrubs grow around 3-4' tall and wide but some dwarf varieties are becoming popular as well.
Preferred Conditions: Barberry shrubs do best in full sun to part shade and only need average water, able to tolerate drought for short times once well established.
Maintenance: Barberry shrubs do not need a lot of maintenance but just light pruning on occasion to keep its shape.
Pests or Diseases: Pests and diseases are not usually a problem for barberry shrubs.
Propagation Methods: Barberry shrubs produce ornamental fall berries which can create seedlings. Barberries are also propagated through cuttings with good success.
Companion Plants: Barberry shrubs combine well with other deer resistant shrubs and plants since their thorny stems usually deter snaking deer. Barberry shrubs also have fragrant flowers so consider using them as fragrant garden additions.
Seasons of Interest: Spring flowers, summer foliage, fall berries and an attractive winter silhouette means that barberry shrubs can provide year-round interest for four-season landscapes.
Uses in the Garden: Use barberry shrubs as mid to front level shrubs and to create a nice backdrop for other plants. Be aware that using barberry plants in a child's garden could mean tears because the stems do have thorns.
Varieties and Cultivars:
Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' - A Japanese barberry shrub that is hardy from zones 4-7. The bright yellow foliage is very attractive and provides a nice contrast to other garden plants.
Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow' - Zones 4-8. This Japanese barberry has a gorgeous rosy foliage color though new leaves are burgundy-purple when they first emerge. The foliage is slightly variegated and the berries attract native birds. A larger barberry, this shrub may grow 3-6' tall and 4-7' wide.
Berberis thunbergii 'Helmond Pillar' - Zones 4-8. This is a great choice of barberry because of the upright growth habit. 'Helmond Pillar' grows 4-5' tall and only 1-2' wide and has burgundy colored foliage.
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