Berberis cretica
Cretan barberry
A tough, low-growing, and sometimes prostrate, extremely thorny little shrub from Greece, Crete and Cyprus. It's a sun lover and drought tolerant once well established. It has small oval mid green leaves that turn good fiery colours briefly before they fall in the autumn. Short clusters of pale yellow flowers in sping become tiny blue-black berries that develop a pale blueberry-like bloom in the autumn. Birds love the berries.
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | Green Black | ||
| Autumn | Yellow Red Orange | Black Blue | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- 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
- Plant range
- Mediterranean
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows in any soil except waterlogged. A sunny position will encourage fruiting. Drought tolerant once established. For more information please see shrub cultivation.
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in a seedbed in early spring. Many Berberis species cross freely in gardens, so seed-raised plants are often 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
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and berberis sawfly
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and sometimes by honey fungus
Get involved
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