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BERBERIS
Commonly known as Barberry
Genus of about 450 evergreen and deciduous shrubs from all parts of the northern hemishere, northern and tropical Africa and South America differing widely in form and habit from dwarf species to large garden or hedging shrubs and usually with spiny branches or spine-tipped leaves.
Barberry fruit, rich in vitamin C was used in the past to make jellies, jams and pickles.
B. vulgaris is naturalised in the UK and was much-despised and destroyed in the 19th century as it is a secondary host of wheat rust.
It is being planted to safeguard the rare Barberry Carpet moth, its sole food plant.
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Deciduousshrubs grown for ornamental leaves, autumn foliage, yellow-orange flowers and red or blue-black berries.
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Evergreen
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Dwarf shrubTypically only grows to a maximum of one or two feet in height but there will be some exceptions.
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Medium shrubTypically grow to around 4-6 feet in height
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Tall Shrub
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowWildlife plant - birds. Vicious spines make impenetrable hedges. Plant under a bird table to keep cats at bay. Trim hedges after flowering.
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Garden Location/ConditionsCoastal / windswept
Buy Varieties of BERBERIS
BERBERIS darwinii
bright orange flowers
BERBERIS insignis
forms a dense clump of erect yellowish stems. Dense flower clusters followed by black berries
BERBERIS julianae
dense evergreen with spiny prickles and scented yellow flowers. A good hedging plant
BERBERIS linearifolia 'Orange King'
evergreen leaves and rich orange flowers
BERBERIS x lologensis 'Apricot Queen'
evergreen leaves and apricot orange flowers
BERBERIS x ottawensis 'Superba'
yellow flowers, purple foliage, strong grower
BERBERIS thunbergii
green leaves changing to orange-red in autumn. Suitable for hedges
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Admiration'
compact, low growing variety with lovely orange-red leaves with a yellow edge. Good orange autumn colour
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'
best purple foliage berberis
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Atropurpurea-nana'
dwarf purple berberis
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Aurea'
bright gold foliage
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Red Chief'
deep reddish purple leaves on bright red stems
BERBERIS thunbergii 'Rose Glow'
leaves of young shoots purple, mottled silvery pink and bright rose, becoming purple later
BERBERIS verruculosa
leaves are dark green on top and grey-white underneath. Golden yellow flowers in late spring.