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Best berberis for colourful flowers & fruit

Primarily valued for being hardy, reliable and easy to grow, and evergreens in particular for their year-round structure and dense habit, berberis are also highly ornamental, adding colour and interest with abundant spring flowers and vivid autumn berries.

Loved by pollinators and garden birds alike, there are many different species and cultivars to choose from. Here are some of our favourites. 

Colourful flowers

Berberis 'Goldilocks'
Berberis 'Goldilocks'
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Berberis</em> 'Goldilocks'
Berberis × ottawensis f. purpurea 'Superba'
Berberis × ottawensis f. purpurea 'Superba'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>ottawensis</em> f. <em>purpurea</em> 'Superba'
Berberis × stenophylla 'Irwinii'
Berberis × stenophylla 'Irwinii'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>stenophylla</em> 'Irwinii'
Berberis trigona 'Orange King'
Berberis trigona 'Orange King'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>trigona</em> 'Orange King'
Berberis × lologensis 'Stapehill'
Berberis × lologensis 'Stapehill'
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>lologensis</em> 'Stapehill'
Berberis valdiviana
Berberis valdiviana
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>valdiviana</em>
Berberis darwinii
Berberis darwinii
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>darwinii</em>
Berberis × lologensis 'Apricot Queen'
Berberis × lologensis 'Apricot Queen'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>lologensis</em> 'Apricot Queen'
Berberis × stenophylla 'Corallina Compacta'
Berberis × stenophylla 'Corallina Compacta'
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>stenophylla</em> 'Corallina Compacta'
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>darwinii</em> 'Compacta'

Colourful berries

Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Pillar'
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Pillar'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>thunbergii</em> f. <em>atropurpurea</em> 'Red Pillar'
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Rocket'
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Rocket'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>thunbergii</em> f. <em>atropurpurea</em> 'Red Rocket'
Berberis thunbergii 'Green Ornament'
Berberis thunbergii 'Green Ornament'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>thunbergii</em> 'Green Ornament'
Berberis 'Georgei'
Berberis 'Georgei'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> 'Georgei'
Berberis wilsoniae
Berberis wilsoniae
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>wilsoniae</em>
Berberis darwinii
Berberis darwinii
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>darwinii</em>
Berberis vulgaris
Berberis vulgaris
  • 2.5–4 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>vulgaris</em>
Berberis dictyophylla
Berberis dictyophylla
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>dictyophylla</em>
Berberis × ottawensis f. purpurea 'Superba'
Berberis × ottawensis f. purpurea 'Superba'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Berberis</em> × <em>ottawensis</em> f. <em>purpurea</em> 'Superba'
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Berberis</em> <em>darwinii</em> 'Compacta'

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