Berberis aetnensis
Mount Etna barberry
This small, scrubby, deciduous, dwarf species of Barberry grows to about 2 ft high and has crooked branches and is suitable for the rock or alpine garden. Its leaves are small, oval shaped, sometimes toothed or with bristles and it is quite thorny having three-parted spines, sometimes over 1 inch long. It has pretty small yellow flowers in late spring, in short clusters 3⁄4 to 1 1⁄4 inch long, carrying six to sometimes fifteen individual little flowers. The little berry like fruits are red turning red-black when fully ripe.
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver Yellow | Red | ||
| Winter | Red Black |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Berberis can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with spiny shoots bearing simple, often spine-toothed leaves, and small yellow or orange flowers in axillary clusters or racemes, followed by small berries
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in early spring. Many species can cross freely in gardens, so seed-raised plants can often be hybrids. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Rock garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Gravel garden
- Low Maintenance
- Banks and slopes
- Ground cover
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and to berberis sawfly
Diseases
May be susceptible to Powdery mildews.
Get involved
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