Berberis plants – more info
Berberis, or barberry plants, really come into their own as part of a wildlife friendly, low maintenance hedge. The small attractive leaves, delicate blooms and autumn berries all provide much needed food for pollinators and shelter for nesting birds. Japanese berberis thunbergii has lovely autumn colours towards the end of summer.
Which berberis flowers are scented?
Berberis are not known for their scented flowers. Their brightly coloured leaves and berries provide the main window of interest in autumn. Delicate blooms crop in between the spines which protect them in late spring.
Where can you plant your berberis in the garden?
Berberis make excellent specimen shrubs. Berberis 'Orange Sunrise' is a very special variety with gold edged leaves in a vibrant orange. Their fiery autumn colour is beautifully offset by darker containers or planted alongside winter evergreens that provide a backdrop for the dense, thorny stems. If you’re planning a security hedge, berberis makes an excellent low-growing, spiky addition to block off the gaps under taller shrubs like hawthorn and blackthorn.
Which is the tallest berberis plant?
Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket’ is an upright variety reaching 1.5 metres tall. The pale yellow foliage on this tall berberis variety is offset by eye-catching crimson berries in autumn. Berberis x media 'Dual Jewel' is a very low-growing variety, reaching only 40cm tall, but spreads out to make good prickly ground cover. Great for deterring would-be explorers from flower beds!
Which berberis is evergreen?
Berberis buxifolia 'Nana' is a delightful evergreen berberis with short stems that mature at 30cm in mounds of tiny deep green leaves. Yellow flowers in late spring are followed by unusual blue berries. Most berberis thunbergii types are deciduous. The hybrid Berberis x media 'Dual Jewel'’ is a semi-evergreen which means that leaves drop only for a brief period and new growth starts immediately.
