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Berberis jamesiana

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
BUR-bur-is james-ee-AN-uh
Description

James Barberry is a deciduous, multi-stemmed flowering shrub in the barberry family native to thickets, forests, forest margins, riversides, and mountain slopes in China and Tibet. The plant will mature to about 10 feet high. It has incredibly showy red fruits in 2 to 3 inch strands and is resistant to damage by deer and drought.

James Barberry prefers full sun and well drained soil, but is very adaptable to various soil types and is heat tolerant. It is an erect, bushy shrub with 2 inch thorns and can function well as a hedge, border, or barrier.

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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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#showy fruits#deer resistant#spines#red fruits#barrier#perennial#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#showy fruits#deer resistant#spines#red fruits#barrier#perennial#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Berberis
    Species:
    jamesiana
    Family:
    Berberidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China and South East Tibet
    Edibility:
    Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Bright red to salmon-pink globose fruits in very showy clusters resemble currents. Berry initially creamy white, finally light red.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny yellow flowers in raceme. Blooms in spring producing 9 to 20-flowered, sometimes to 40-flowered, slender, glabrous. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals oblong-obovate; inner sepals narrowly obovate. Petals obovate or narrowly oblong-elliptic.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Olive green, simple, alternate leaves. Shiny, elliptic or oblong-obovate, 1 to 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches wide, subleathery, with obviously raised midvein, lateral and reticulate veins conspicuous, margin entire or closely spinulose, apex rounded or retuse.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Black
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Description:
    Branches are dark gray or purplish black and terete.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Security
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns