Berberis × stenophylla
Common name: 
Rosemary Barberry
Pronunciation: 
BER-ber-is X sten-o-FIL-a
Family: 
Berberidaceae
Genus: 
Berberis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 10 ft (3 m) tall and 15 ft (4.5 m) wide, arching, free flowing habit.  Leaves 15-25 mm long, linear-lanceolate, single spiny tip, margin rolled under (revolute), glossy dark green above, whitish beneath.  Flowers 8 mm long, golden-yellow, in clusters, late spring.  Fruit 6 mm long, globose, purple-black.
  • Sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (5)6      A hybrid of B. darwinii × B. empetrifolia, originated before 1864.  There are many cultivars but only a limited number appear to be available in the U.S.; the most commonly planted are:
    • ‘Corallina Compacta’  -  about 1.5 ft high
    • ‘Irwinii’  -  to about 4-5 ft tall
    • ‘Nana’  - compact and has yellow flowers
  • stenophylla   steno-, narrow; phylla, leaves.  Its narrow leaves are somewhat reminiscent of the narrow leaves of Rosemary, hence the common name.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowering branch

    flowering branch

  • leaves and flower cluster

    leaves and flower cluster