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Berberis julianae

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ber-BER-is joo-lee-AN-eye
Description

Berberis julianae is a very cold hardy evergreen barberry. It can be severely pruned and makes a good screen or barrier. This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer, is moderately salt tolerant, and is tolerant to a range of soil types. This plant's habit is a rounded, dense mound, but it may become open with age. Its texture is medium to fine. 

Seed: Berry

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves evergreen and in clusters on short shoots
  • Leaves coriaceous, concolorous and sharply serrate
  • Stems with 3 spines at each node 

Flowers in early spring; berries persist into fall; evergreen foliage lustrous dark green; good barrier plant- very spiny and dense; looks weedy if unpruned. 

Urban tolerant; drought and shade tolerant; tolerates heavy pruning; pest and disease free.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Nana'
  • 'Spring Glory'
'Nana', 'Spring Glory'
Tags:
#thorns#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#fall interest#deer browsing plant#spines#frost tolerant#spring interest#screening#fantz#evergreen shrub#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#barrier#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Nana'
  • 'Spring Glory'
'Nana', 'Spring Glory'
Tags:
#thorns#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#fall interest#deer browsing plant#spines#frost tolerant#spring interest#screening#fantz#evergreen shrub#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#barrier#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Berberis
    Species:
    julianae
    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):
    Drought tolerant, deer damage, salt tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Mounding
    Open
    Rounded
    Texture:
    Fine
    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)
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    .3-in., oval, bluish-black fruit that persists into fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, yellow flowers in spring. Inflorescence subumbellate racemes. 2-5, yellow, borne on long pedicels.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    This plant has alternate, simple, lustrous, and dark green leaves. They are 2-3" long, spiny, and serrated with a wine-red fall color. Narrow-elliptic to lanceolate or oblanceolate, clustered on dwarf shoots in spine axil, coriaceous, concolorous above and beneath. There are multiple leaves (3-5) per node.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Angular, yellowish when young, yellow-gray or yellow-brown 2nd year, bearing 3-parted spines.
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Security
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Salt
    Problems:
    Problem for Children
    Spines/Thorns