Berberis fortunei
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mahonia fortunei
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is for-TOO-nee-eye
- Description
-
This evergreen shrub is one of many in the barberry family. It has multiple stems with the branches remaining full at the bottom and draping over as they grow in height, making it a rounded 3 to 5 foot wide and tall shrub. It can be used in a mass planting or as a single shrub in smaller areas or small gardens. It can be effective in front of tall shrubs with bare lower stems or in front of trees with less bark interest.
It is moderately drought tolerant although less hardy than other shrubs in the barberry family. This is a shade plant but in some areas it has been grown in a fair amount of sun with partial shade. The shrub can be pruned to size, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth.
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- fortunei
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern China and Taiwan
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flower form is called raceme, meaning a stalk with small, tight flowers along the stalk that have no or very short stems of their own. Older blooms are at the base with younger ones further out on the stalk or raceme. Blooms are yellow and appear in late summer into fall.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The green leaf is narrow, about 4 to 7 inches long. There is no fall color change and the leaves are not considered showy. The pinnate leaf is a series of leaflets on each side of the stem, the stem of leaflets making up one leaf. In this shrub, the leaflets are alternately placed on each side of the stem. The margins have 5 to 10 or more spiny protrusions in a holly-like form.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
