Description
Berberis – Barberry –
There are about 450 species of evergreen or deciduous shrubs, in this genus. They occur in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Tropical Africa, and South America, that prefers rocky soils in mountainous areas. They produces leather, linear to very broadly ovate or obovate, smooth edged or spine toothed leaves. Weak to quite fierce spines are borne in groups of threes and persist on old, leafless stems. Barberries are grown for their foliage (ornamental or giving good autumn color), small racemes, panicles, or axillary clusters of yellow to dark orange, cream or reddish flowers, cup shaped usually reflexed sepals, followed by colorful autumn fleshy fruits. They range from dwarf species and cultivars to large shrubs that are effective in a border, as specimen shrubs, or hedges. Site with care as branches can be hazardous. All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with spines may irritate skin. Were once used to make dye for clothes, leather, wood and hair.
Grow in almost any well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Fruiting and autumn color are better in sun. Trim after flowering.
Prone to scale insects, mites, Japanese weevils, canker, dieback, fungal leaf spots, powdery mildew, root rot, verticillium wilt, rust. Many Berberis species are the alternate hosts of wheat rust, their culture is banned in Canada and parts of the USA.
B. aristata – This deciduous shrub from Nepal grows 10′ feet tall. From branches armed with spines toward the tips it carries variable foliage, up to 2 ½” long, is elliptic, smooth or serrate with 5 thorns per side. It is a glossy dark green with some light veining on the undersides. Although there may be many flowers (up to 25) per racemes, 3 to a racemes is more usual. The flowers are yellow tinged with red and are followed by glossy red egg shaped fruits with a slight bloom at the base. Often confused with B. floribunda and B. chitria.
Zones 6-9
