Berberis julianae C.K. Schneid.

Wintergreen Barberry; Evergreen Barberry

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Wintergreen Barberry is an introduced evergreen shrub in the Barberry family (Berberidaceae). It is native to central China. Grown as an ornamental in the United States, it has been reported as an escape in Alabama, Mississippi, New York, and North Carolina. In Alabama it has been found at scattered locations across the state. Wintergreen Barberry is a thicket forming shrub between 1-3 meters in height, spreading by root sprouts. The bark is grooved and yellowish or gray-brown. Stems are armed with stout 3-branched spines up to 3 inches in length. Leaves are alternate and clustered on short shoots. The leaves are petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate in outline, thick and leathery in texture, with 10-20 sharp teeth along each margin. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, and the lower surface is lighter green. Flowers are produced in fascicles of 10-25. Individual flowers have 6 sepals in 2 whorls, the outer ovate in outline and the inner elliptic. There are 6 bright yellow petals. The fruit is a blue-black oblong berry. Wintergreen Barberry is available from nurseries and is often used as a barrier plant, forming impenetrable thickets. It should not be planted near traffic areas due to the sharp spines. It is tolerant of drought and poor soils, is salt and deer resistant, and has no major pests or diseases. A yellow dye can be made from the bark.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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