Berberis, ideal for defensive hedges

Berberis is a defensive hedge shrub of great value, especially thanks to its blooming.

Basic Berberis facts

Name – Berberis
Family – Berberidaceae
Type – shrub

Height – 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 m)
Exposure – full sun, part sun
Soil – ordinary

Foliage – deciduous or persistent depending on the variety
Flowering – April-May

The planting, pruning and care will ensure the proper development of your berberis.

Planting berberis

It is best to plant berberis in fall to speed root development up.

Planting in spring is possible provided that regular watering over the first year after planting is foreseen.

• In a hedge, space plants at least 40 inches (1 m) from each other.
• Refer to our guidelines on planting shrubs

Pruning and caring for berberis

For hedges, go for one pruning each in fall and spring to shape it into the silhouette you desire.

As a standalone, it can be pruned back in fall more or less by ¼ its height in order to boost blooming in spring.

Several small barberry varieties can be grown into low hedges, for the most beautiful effect.

Learn more about Berberis

This thorn bush encompasses several hundred species and this provides for a variety of shapes and colors.

Berberis, or barberry, can be found with either green or purple leafage and the blooming ranges from pink to white through yellow and orange.

• It is particularly well suited to creating defensive hedges and also to shrub beds.
• A special Berberis variety is Berberis thunbergii
• Its even possible to grow Berberis indoors in containers!
• Last but not least, wonderful berberis bonsai can be created out of virtually any species.