Plant Profile: Berberis vulgaris

Taxonomy: Berberis vulgaris

Names

Common Barberry, European Barberry

  • Photo of Berberis vulgaris (Berberis vulgariss)

Phonetic Spelling:BUR-bur-is vul-GAIR-iss

Genus:Berberis

Species:vulgaris

Family:Berberaceae

This European barberry has established itself in the United States, where it has become quite invasive. The small yellow flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, emitting an unpleasant scent. Additionally, the plant features three-pronged spines at the leaf bases.

In terms of pests and diseases, it is recognized as an invasive species in various parts of the U.S. and serves as a host for wheat rust.

Berberis vulgaris Feature Summary

Berberis vulgaris Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#perennial
#weedy
#deciduous shrub
#dye plant
#malodorus
#spiny
#yellow dye

Similar Plants

Berberis vulgaris Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers are used as a dye.
Fruits are eaten and spread by birds and small mammals.
Fruits can be used to make jam.
Perennial
Woody
Fruit
Red ellipsoids 1/3" and have 1-3 small black seeds.
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
Flowers
Tiny yellow flowers in late spring to early summer with an unpleasant fragrance.
Gold/Yellow
< 1 inch
Leaves
Oval 1"-2" long .5" wide serrate margins, clustered in groups of 2-5
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Landscape
Weedy
Spines/Thorns

Berberis vulgaris Attributes

Berberis vulgaris: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Flowers are used as a dye.

Berberis vulgaris: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe to Iran

Berberis vulgaris: Wildlife Value

Fruits are eaten and spread by birds and small mammals.

Berberis vulgaris: Edibility

Fruits can be used to make jam.

Berberis vulgaris: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Berberis vulgaris Fruit

Berberis vulgaris: Fruit Description

Red ellipsoids 1/3" and have 1-3 small black seeds.

Berberis vulgaris: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Berberis vulgaris: Fruit Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Berberis vulgaris: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Berberis vulgaris: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Berberis vulgaris: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Berberis vulgaris Flowers

Berberis vulgaris: Flower Description

Tiny yellow flowers in late spring to early summer with an unpleasant fragrance.

Berberis vulgaris: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Berberis vulgaris: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Berberis vulgaris Leaves

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Description

Oval 1"-2" long .5" wide serrate margins, clustered in groups of 2-5

Berberis vulgaris: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Berberis vulgaris: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Berberis vulgaris: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Berberis vulgaris Whole Plant Traits

Berberis vulgaris: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Berberis vulgaris: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Berberis vulgaris: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Berberis vulgaris: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Berberis vulgaris: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Berberis vulgaris: Appendage

Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns

Berberis vulgaris Cultural Conditions

Berberis vulgaris: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Berberis vulgaris Stem

Berberis vulgaris: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Berberis vulgaris Landscape

Berberis vulgaris: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Berberis vulgaris: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy