Wisley Barberry Berberis triacanthophora
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is try-ah-kan-tho-FOR-ah
- Description
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Threespine barberry is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to central China and was introduced by Wilson in 1907.
The shrub will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and wide in a rounded form that is more open in the shade. It will grow in full sun to partial shade in average to moist well-drained garden soils. The plant can spread by suckers and form thickets or by seed dispersed by the birds.
Threespine barberry flowers in spring with pale yellow to whitish flowers that have a tinge of red on the outside in clusters of 3 to 5. The leaves are slender with spines at the margins and tips and the stems are very spiny. In fall the oval fruits turn black with a slight blue bloom. The plant provides four seasons of interest.
This shrub can be used as a hedge or barrier or in an Asian, cottage or winter garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Blowing trash can get caught in the branches due to the spines.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cally Rose'
Pink and white flowers. Not as cold hardy
- 'Cally Rose'
- 'Cally Rose'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cally Rose'
Pink and white flowers. Not as cold hardy
- 'Cally Rose'
- 'Cally Rose'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- triacanthophora
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native Central China
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds will eat the fruits.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.3-in., bluish-black fruit
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- In spring, pale yellow to white flowers with a red tinge on the outside appear in clusters of 3 to 5 on short stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, bright green leaves; purplish-red winter color with sharp tips. Margins curved with spines on the sides and tip. The undersides are somewhat glaucous. They are 1 to 2 inches long and 1/2 inch or less wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Brown stems have 3 parted spines
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
