Berberis candidula
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-BER-is kan-DID-yoo-lah
- Description
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Paleleaf Barberry is an evergreen perennial shrub native to China. The plant that spreads through suckers that can form colonies and is good for rock gardens and as ground cover. This plant is easy to transplant and withstands severe pruning. Its grows low to the ground and is dense. The arching ridge stems create a hemispherical shape.
This plant has medium to fine texture and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It is best planted in small groups in shade or woodland gardens. It does not like highly alkaline soils and will become chlorotic in high pH soils and desiccating winds.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spots, rust, and leaf scorch from sun/wind. Chlorosis on high pH soils; leaves can look burned but stems will regrow leaves next spring.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- candidula
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central China
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- seldom damaged by deer.
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has 1/2 inch purplish berries in early fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has 1/2 inch bright yellow flowers on long pedicle in early summer. Flowers solitary. Sepals in 3 whorls; outer sepals yellowish red, median sepals oblong-obovate, inner sepals obovate.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Plant has alternate, simple, lustrous, and dark green leaves that are 1 to 2 inches long with leathery, spined margins. The edges of leaf are recurved under and may develop red tinge in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Surface:
- Dull
- Stem Description:
- Stems gray-brown, verruculose; young shoots pale green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Security
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
