Berberis jamesiana
Common name: 
James Barberry
Pronunciation: 
BER-ber-is james-ee-AN-uh
Family: 
Berberidaceae
Genus: 
Berberis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No

  • Broadleaf, deciduous shrub, to about 6-8(15) ft high [1.8-2.4(4.5) m], with a bushy, erect, irregular habit.  Young shoots are armed with single or triple spines, 1-3 cm long.  Leaves opposite, simple, obovate, 2.5-6 cm long and 1-5 cm wide, rounded at the apex, tapering at the base, margin entire or minutely toothed; color is olive green but become reddish before leaf fall.  Flowers are yellow, 0.5 cm wide, in 5-10 cm long clusters.  The fruit is held in pendent clusters, each globose, 0.9 cm long, and developing into a translucent bright red, like red-currants.

  • Sun, average moisture

  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8           Native to China and Tibet.  Introduced by George Forrest in 1913.  Received the RHS Award of Merit in 1925.

  • Oregon State Univ. campus: small garden at the SE entrance to Ag. & Life Science

Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, late summer

    plant habit, late summer

  • branch and leaves

    branch and leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • thorn

    thorn