Barberry

Do you want to plant a Barberry? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Barberry, and on pruning and caring for your Barberry.
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General characteristics of a Barberry

The barberry belongs to the Ribes family and is scientifically known as Ribes uva-crispa. The shrub is widespread in Europe and parts of Asia, and is often cultivated in gardens and on farms for its edible fruits (other parts of the shrub can cause mild poisoning). The berries are green, yellow or red.

Characteristics


How to plant a Barberry

The best planting time is between October and April. Protect the plant well against frost by placing extra leaves around the base of the trunk. Water sufficiently after planting. To create a hedge, calculate 6 plants per linear metre.

How to harvest a Barberry

Cut around the roots carefully so as not to damage them.

Caring for and pruning your Barberry

Pruning gooseberries can help improve fruit production and keep the bush healthy. The best time to prune is in early spring or after the harvest in autumn.

Where does a Barberry grow

Commonly found in dune scrub and on loess, in nutrient-poor, calcareous areas.


General

Origin
Alien
Tree Type Shrub

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 1 Up to 2 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 2 Up to 3 year
Maximum Age 10 Up to 20 year
Required Space 1 Up to 2m2
Growth Rate trees.medium

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
To cut (cutting is between 5 and 50 cm)
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer September tot October
Winter March tot April
Leaf Shapes Heart-shaped
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Oval

Other

Root
Broad root system
Bloom
Has flowers
Wind sensitivity Moderately sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Mildew
Leaf spot disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

Barberries remain largely on the shrub during winter. The branches have thorns, which are scattered apart. The branches are straight and sturdy, with dark green bark that can turn grey over time. The leaves are heart-shaped to lobed, with a dark green colour. In autumn, the leaves can turn yellow to orange and red before falling off. Some species are evergreen.

Light requirement of the Barberry

The Barberry thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun

    • Suitable soil types for the Barberry

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Barberry to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Barberry

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Barberry in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Barberry

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Barberry like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Lice
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer June Up to June

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Goat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Horse
    Sheep
    Pig
    Herbivorous rodents
    Dog
    Human
    Foxes
    Wild boar
    Roe deer
    Mouse
    Cat
    Deer
    Ferret
    Squirrel
    Badgers
    Beavers

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Barberry looks like

    Barberry a mature shrub
    Sharp thornes of the barberry

    This is what the fruits of a Barberry look like

    Barberry - fruit

    This is what a Barberry in bloom looks like

    Barberry in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Barberry looks like

    Barberry - leaf