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Berberis
Also called Oregon Grape, Barberries, Holly Grape, Algerita, Berbéris
Berberis is a large genus of spiny deciduous and evergreen shrubs, 1 to 5 m tall, grown for ornamental foliage, yellow flowers and red or blue-black berries. Common garden members include B. thunbergii, B. julianae and B. darwinii; the key to growing them is full sun to part shade and keeping invasive species out of the wild.
Berberis (), commonly known as barberry, is a large genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1–5 m (3+1⁄2–16+1⁄2 ft) tall, found throughout temperate and subtropical regions of the world (apart from Australia). Species diversity is greatest in South America and Asia, but native species also appear in Europe, Africa, and North America.
The best-known Berberis species is the type species, B. vulgaris (European barberry), which is common in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia; it has also been widely introduced in North America. Additionally, B. aquifolium is the state flower of Oregon.
Several species of Berberis are favored as garden shrubs, grown for such features as ornamental leaves, yellow flowers, or red or blue-black berries. Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been selected for garden use. Low-growing Berberis plants are also commonly planted as pedestrian barriers. Taller-growing species are valued for crime prevention; being dense and viciously spiny, they are effective barriers to burglars; accordingly, they may be planted below vulnerable windows, and used as hedges. Many species are resistant to predation by deer.
Species in cultivation include:
Berberis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the moths barberry carpet moth (Pareulype berberata), and mottled pug (Eupithecia exiguata).
Tree Turmeric · American barberry · Darwin's Barberry · Berberis empetrifolia · Colorado barberry · Berberis ×hortensis · Berberis ilicifolia · Barberry Family · Wintergreen barberry · Berberis laurina · Boxthorn Barberry · Berberis temolaica
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Berberis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
