(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...

(Amur Barberry)

Fragrant blossoms and fiery fall foliage are highlights of the Amur barberry. This deciduous shrub is native to thickets and sparse woodlands in northeastern Asia, from China and Japan up into Russian Siberia. The twigs are pale yellow to gray and lined with clusters of three-tipped spines.

The green leaves are oval with eyelash-like hairs on their edges. The leaf comprises three leaflets that are held directly on the twig. In mid- to late spring, dangling clusters of fragrant yellow flowers...

(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.

(Chinese Barberry)

The glossy foliage and purplish fruits on a dense mound make the Chinese barberry worth of inclusion in a landscape. This semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub is native to central western China. The branches are rigid but tend to arch. Spines line the light brown, slightly zigzag branches as well.

The leathery dark green leaves are narrow ovals and are armed with spines on their edges. Leaf undersides are white. In late spring the shrub produces solitary bright yellow flowers. By late summer the...

(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 adaptable 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....

(Korean Barberry)

Supplying four-season interest to temperate landscapes, the Korean barberry dazzles with pretty flowers, fruits and rich fall foliage. This semi-evergreen shrub is native to the Korean peninsula and Japan. Its bark is reddish brown and the twigs are densely armed with short spines in groups of one to five. These flattened spines look like tiny duck feet. This barberry also suckers from its base, making it rather difficult to manage.

The elliptical leaves are green. In mid-spring, pendulous clusters...

(Sargent's Barberry)

Lustrous green foliage that looks somewhat like that of a holly is held on the branches of Sargent's barberry. This evergreen shrub is native to western China in open woodlands and bamboo groves. It develops into an upright, rounded plant with gray-brown bark.

The glossy dark green leaves are narrow ovals that are edged with tiny teeth. Leaf undersides are yellow-green. In late spring, yellow-green flowers with reddened edges dangle from the spined twigs, attracting bees for pollination. By late...

(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...