Berberis plants
Berberis plants are dense, upright shrubs with sturdy branches, spiny margined leaves and thorny stems. Boasting a range of ornamental features including beautiful flowers, glossy berries and seasonal foliage colour, they're the perfect low maintenance shrub for beginner gardeners. Well suited to incorporating into the mixed border or using as a impenetrable, intruder-proof hedge - just make sure you have a pair of protective gloves at the ready for handling and planting! The dense, prickly branches of Berberis make ideal nesting sites for birds inside a secure, predator-proof barrier, whilst bees and butterflies love their spring flowers and the berries provide a valuable source of food for birds and small mammals.
Choose Berberis Darwinii for small, spiky, dark green leaves and pendant, golden-yellow flowers; Berberis Julianae for clusters of yellow, red-tinged flowers and attractive red autumn foliage colour; Berberis Golden Rocket for outstanding bright golden foliage; Berberis Admiration for yellow-edged, purple-red ovate leaves; and Berberis Helmond Pillar if you're looking for a dwarf variety (1-1.5m tall) with a very erect growth habit.