Growing Barberry Shrubs

If you are looking for an unusual plant to add to your home garden, try growing a barberry shrub. These shrubs provide deeply colored foliage to go with their bright yellow flowers and create a visually striking appearance. Barberry shrubs are strong enough to survive through temporary droughts and are resistant to pests and disease. Their thorny stems can also be an effective natural form of deer repellent.

Growing barberry shrubs: How they grow

Barberry plants are woody shrubs that produce bright yellow flowers every spring. These pleasant-smelling flowers are unusual in that they hang below the stem instead of on top, forming a tear-drop shape. The foliage of a barberry shrub can be a variety of different colors, depending on the type of barberry plant you are growing. Some species have a bright green tint to their leaves, while others may have burgundy or a mix of colors. Whatever the species, the foliage is generally still comprised of small leaves in oval shapes. A barberry shrub spreads along the ground as it grows, sprouting many new branches and stems each season. Most types of barberry plants end up only three or four feet tall and about the same in width unless allowed to sprawl uncontrolled.

Growing barberry shrubs: Where to plant

Gardeners have quite a bit of flexibility in where to grow a barberry shrub because it can survive in less than ideal environments. They do not require a lot of water, allowing you to plant a barberry in areas that are susceptible to periodic droughts. Almost any range of sunlight is also acceptable for a barberry shrub, from direct sunlight to halfway in the shade. These deciduous shrubs are also strong enough to resist most common garden pests and plant diseases. The only ongoing maintenance required by a barberry plant is some occasional pruning to make sure it holds its desired structure.

Growing barberry shrubs: Uses in a home garden

Barberry shrubs work well in any garden, providing a fragrant accent to your existing plants. No matter the season, your barberry plant will add some type of visual appeal to your home's garden. In the summertime, you will have the bright green or burgundy foliage, spring will bring in yellow flowers, and fall will leave you with the dark colored berries of the barberry plant. If deer or other animals are a problem in your area, barberry plants can be an effective deer repellent because of their thorny stems. They also can provide an interesting background for other flowering plants in the garden or as a barrier separating different sections of your landscaping.