(Crested Philippine Violet)

Sandpapery leaves nestle around the trumpeting lavender-purple flowers of the crested Philippine violet in autumn. A semi-evergreen shrub native to India and Southeast Asia, it is upright in habit with a rounded silhouette. The leaves are oval, medium-green, roughly haired. Blooming most heavily in autumn, but a lesser degree in spring, it has lavender-purple or pinkish flowers at the tips of its stems. Each blossom is trumpet-like with a throat that is white-streaked. In a cool or droughty winter,...

(Golden Barleria, Primrose Barleria)

Pleasantly rounded in habit with deep green foliage, primrose barleria bears upright green spikes that have delicate light yellow blossoms from fall to spring. This tender tropical shrub is native from southern Mexico to Colombia. It is the only Barleria native to the New World and has commonly been mistakenly labeled in the nursery trade as Barleria micans, which is from Africa.

The many upright branches on this shrub creates a rounded clump. Leaves are slightly hairy or fuzzy...

(St. Thomas Tree)

The St. Thomas tree produces delicate pale yellow flowers with dark throats from spring to fall. This large tropical shrub or small tree is native to much of the Old World Tropics, from eastern Africa to southeastern China.

The smooth, rounded, papery leaves of this subtly pretty tree are green with blue-green tones. During the warm months, when moisture is available, the branches become filled with bell-shaped flowers that resemble hibiscus blossoms. In high heat flowering may cease. The...

(Emerald Carousel™ Barberry)

Emerald Carousel™ barberry is a hybrid cross between Berberis thunbergii and Berberis koreana. This rounded shrub has graceful arching branches that bear yellow flower clusters in the spring. Its foliage is lustrous, deep green and turns dark red to purple in early fall through to late autumn. Bright red berries are produced along its stems and are held into winter until they are eaten by birds. This is a thorny shrub that prefers full sun and is tolerant of most soils. It is commonly used for hedges...

(Boxleaf Barberry)

Boxleaf barberry is a thorny, evergreen shrub that may be semi-evergreen where winters are particularly cold and harsh. This native of Chile and Argentina tolerates a wide variety of conditions but is happiest in locations with full sun and evenly moist soils. Its small orange-yellow flowers bloom profusely in spring. By fall, it has an abundance of dark purple berries that persist through to winter and are eaten by birds. This attractive shrub is useful in hedge and foundation plantings.

(Dwarf Boxleaf Barberry)

Dwarf boxleaf barberry is a slow growing evergreen plant, though it may be semi-evergreen where winters are harsh. This native of Chile and Argentina blooms heavily in the spring with small dark orange-yellow, fragrant flowers. These are followed by purple berry-like fruits. This shrub is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions but is happiest in a sunny, evenly moist location. Dwarf boxleaf barberry makes a nice low hedge or could be used in the rock garden.

(Darwin's Barberry)

One of the most beautiful and exotic of the barberries, Darwin's barberry is distinguished by pendulous clusters of golden orange flowers that bloom profusely in spring. It is native to the alpine regions of Chile, Argentina and Patagonia where it thrives in moist open woodlands. The rounded shrub becomes quite large, may develop arching branches, and has prickly evergreen leaves. Edible purplish black barberries are produced in summer. They are tart, seedy and can be used to make jam. There is evidence...

(Wintergreen Barberry)

A tall evergreen shrub, wintergreen barberry is the hardiest of the evergreen barberries. Its spiny, glossy green leaves become tinged red in the autumn and winter, and it has showy yellow flowers that develop into small, waxy blue fruits that turn almost black when fully mature. This shrub has large, fierce three-parted spines that make it almost impenetrable, especially when used in hedges. Wintergreen barberry prefers full to part-sun and is very site-tolerant and low maintenance.

(Spring Glory Barberry, Wintergreen Barberry)

An upright to mounded evergreen shrub, wintergreen barberry is the hardiest of the evergreen barberries. 'Spring Glory' has reddish new growth in spring which matures to leathery green leaves. These become tinged bronze-red in the autumn and winter. Its showy yellow flowers develop into small, waxy blue fruits in autumn that turn almost black when fully mature and persist into winter.

This shrub has large, fierce three-parted spines that make it almost impenetrable, especially when used in hedges....

(Japanese Barberry)

Japanese barberry is a dense, upright multi-stemmed shrub that is native to eastern Asia and Japan. Its glossy bright green leaves turn orange, scarlet and/or red-purple in the fall. Bright red berries, which are attractive to birds, appear in late summer to fall and persist into winter. There are many cultivars of Japanese barberry such as the golden-leaved 'Aurea' and dwarf purple-leaved 'Bagatelle'. This shrub has been known to self-sow. Thorny, but still suitable for hedges and barriers, it also...