Berberis julianae, the wintergreen barberry or Chinese barberry, is a flowering evergreen shrub native to Central China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan).[3][4] It is widely grown as an ornamental in other temperate regions. It is reportedly naturalized in scattered parts of the United States (Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and New York State).[5]

Chinese barberry
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Berberis
Species:
B. julianae
Binomial name
Berberis julianae
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Berberis julianae var. oblongifolia Ahrendt
  • Berberis julianae var. patungensis Ahrendt

Berberis julianae grows to a height of 3 metres, as a dense bush with spiny obovate leaves, suitable for hedging. Flowers are yellow, tinged with red, borne in clusters of up to 25 flowers. Berries are elliptical, dark purple, almost black, with a white bloom, up to 6 mm long.[6][7][3]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Tropicos
  2. ^ The Plant List
  3. ^ a b Flora of China v 19 p 740
  4. ^ Sargent, Charles Sprague. 1913. Plantae Wilsonianae an enumeration of the woody plants collected in Western China for the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University during the years 1907, 1908 and 1910 by E.H. Wilson edited by Charles Sprague Sargent 1(3): 360–361.
  5. ^ Biota of North America Program, Berberis julianae
  6. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  7. ^ Trees and shrubs hardy in the British Isles, edn 8, I. A-C. John Murray. 1970.
  8. ^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=234[dead link]