Eagle Lake Nurseries Gardening Tips

October 2003

Barberry
Berberis

Berberis is a large group of both hardy and tender, as well as deciduous and evergreen shrubs. These shrubs are ornamental in an assortment of ways, in the colour of the foliage and the attractive berries they produce. Some have pretty fragrant button like flowers in a variety of colors! Barberry grows wild in all corners of the globe but are especially known in China.

Barberries can grow in moist well-drained soil but will not tolerate waterlogged roots! It is wise to plant the deciduous varieties in full sun to help enhance fall colour. These shrubs are almost maintenance free with very little pruning required because of their compact natural growth habit.

Barberry is also known to be a great security hedge due to the spines that grow on the branches. The old Barberries are hosts to rust disease that attack wheat! In some areas of the U.S and Canada it is illegal to grow those that host disease. The new cultivars for sale today do not have this nasty problem.

Some of the varieties we carry in our Garden Center are:
  • Sunsation Barberry- Height 1 M Spread 1 M
       Compact upright growth habit, new foliage is green turning to a golden colour as it matures.

  • Gold Nugget Barberry- Height 0.5 M Spread 0.5 M
       New growth emerges orange, maturing to a golden yellow. Compact growth habit and also tolerates the sun more then other golden Barberries.

  • Rose Glow Barberry- Height 1.5 M Spread 1.5 M
       New foliage is rose pink in colour, mottled with deeper purples. Foliage eventually matures to a deep reddish-purple colour.

  • Cherry Bomb Barberry - Height 1 M Spread 1M
       Reddish-purple foliage and also has a more upright growth habit and open branching than other Barberry.

  • Emerald Carousel Barberry - Height 1.25 M Spread 1.25 M
       A green foliaged Barberry that turns a deep red in the fall.
    • Renee O'Brien
    Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.