Wintergreen Barberry Berberis julianae
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-BER-is joo-lee-AN-eye
- Description
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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. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on old growth.
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:
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- 'Nana'
- 'Spring Glory'
- 'Nana'
- 'Nana', 'Spring Glory'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nana'
- 'Spring Glory'
- 'Nana'
- 'Nana', 'Spring Glory'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Open
- Rounded
- Texture:
- Fine
- 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)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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-
Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
