Michay Berberis darwinii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is dar-WIN-ee-eye
- Description
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'Darwin Barberry' is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the barberry family native to South America. Charles Darwin noted this plant on his voyage of the Beagle. It has a fountain-like densely branched form, showy yellow-orange flowers and grows to a height of 10 feet. Plant this easy to grow shrub in the full sun to partial shade in average well-drained soils. It will withstand more shade but will have a more open habit and less flowering. Once it is established it can be quite drought and heat tolerant and it is resistant to browsing by deer. To maintain its shape, prune it only to remove dead, broken or poorly formed branches. However it is rhizomatous so sprouts from its base and it can form a thicket or be pruned into a privacy hedge. This plant is not typically grown on the east coast.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be weedy.
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:
- darwinii
- Family:
- Berberidacae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Chile, Argentina
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers, birds are attracted to the fruits.
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dark blue berry round, waxy
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- Showy orange buds burnished with red erupt into orange-yellow flowers in 5" clusters on red stalks that are proliflic starting in the early spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, dark green above light yellow-green below leathery spiny serrate margin. The toothed leaves resemble holly.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Red branches are dense with 3-7 parted thorns.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
