Paleleaf Barberry Berberis candidula
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is kan-DID-yoo-lah
- Description
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Paleleaf barberry is an evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to China. The common name refers to the silver-white bloom on the underside of the leaves.
The shrub grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide in a dense rounded form with stiff, arching branches. It spreads by suckers forming colonies. It prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils. In temperatures of -10 10°F or less, it will drop leaves.
The cup-shaped yellow solitary flowers appear in spring and are followed by purple round fruits in the summer to fall. The leaves are dark shiny green above and have a silvery white bloom on the undersides. Both the leaves and stems have spines.
Use the shrub as a low hedge or in borders.
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. Watch for aphids, scale and whiteflies.
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:
- Root Cutting
- 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:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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 Width:
- < 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 Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has 1/2 inch bright yellow flowers on a 1.2-inch-long pedicle in late spring. Flowers are solitary with 3 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:
- Gray/Silver
- 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
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are alternate, simple, lustrous, and dark green and 1 to 2 inches long with leathery, spiny margins. The edges of the leaf are recurved under and may develop a red tinge in winter. The undersides have a silvery white bloom. Leaves occur in clusters on small spurs along the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Dull
- Stem Description:
- Spiny stems are gray-brown, verruscular; young shoots pale green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Security
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
