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Native alternative(s) for Berberis candidula:
Berberis canadensis Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Berberis verruculosa Berberis verruculosa
Lonicera acuminata Lonicera alseuosmoides
Smilax smallii Form (Moore County, NC)-Early Fall

Paleleaf Barberry Berberis candidula

Phonetic Spelling
ber-BER-is kan-DID-yoo-lah
Description

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.

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See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#evergreen#full sun tolerant#shrub#slow growing#yellow flowers#red leaves#fall interest#security plant#showy fruits#easy to transplant#transplant#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#deer resistant#spines#groundcover#fruits fall#rock garden#border planting#purple fruits#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#pruning tolerant#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#evergreen#full sun tolerant#shrub#slow growing#yellow flowers#red leaves#fall interest#security plant#showy fruits#easy to transplant#transplant#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#deer resistant#spines#groundcover#fruits fall#rock garden#border planting#purple fruits#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#pruning tolerant#hedge
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Security
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Problem for Children
    Spines/Thorns