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BERBERIS x mentorensis

Image of Berberis x mentorensis

Jesse Saylor

Family

Berberidaceae

Botanical Name

BERBERIS x mentorensis

Plant Common Name

Mentor Hybrid Barberry

Special Notice

This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.

General Description

The Mentor barberry is an exceptionally resilient shrub for hedging and deterring trespassers. It originated in Mentor, Ohio, as a hybridization between wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) and Japanese barberry (B. thunbergii). Slender yellowish yet stiff branch shoots grow from this generally rounded but upright shrub that's semi-evergreen. The colder the winter, the progressively more deciduous it becomes.

The new foliage in springtime is chartreuse-green, and then matures to green by summer. The oval leaf blades have toothed tips and have paler green undersides. Easily overlooked yellow flowers occur along the branches in spring, resulting in a flurry of bees for pollination. The ensuing fruits are also overlooked, being a drab red-brown. In autumn, Mentor barberry dazzles with a changeable yellow to orange to red display.

For faster growth and best performance, plant Mentor barberry in full to partial sun and any moist but well-drained soil. It is remarkably tolerate to a wide range of soil conditions, including the seemingly inhospitable environs of urban settings. Use it as a dense, impenetrable hedge (as it responds to sheering just fine) or as a specimen. Birds often use the shrub for cover from predators. One maintenance drawback is that the dense twigs tend to capture and retain garbage and leaf litter over time.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    8 - 4

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Shrub

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m

  • Width

    5'-7' / 1.5m - 2.1m

  • Bloom Time

    Spring

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Drought

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Oval/Rounded

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Insignificant

  • Flower Color

    Yellow

  • Fruit Color

    Dark Red, Sienna

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Chartreuse

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Yellow, Orange, Orange Red

  • Bark Color

    Tan

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Smooth

  • Usage

    Hedges, Screening / Wind Break

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    Yes

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No