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Chenault Barberry

Berberis (BER-ber-is cheh-NAUL-tee-eye)

Family: Berberidaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Chenault barberry is a broadleaf evergreen artificial hybrid of B. gagnepainii and B. verruculosa in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). This shrub grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, preferring any well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. It is very adaptable and drought-tolerant once established. In spring, roundish yellow fragrant flowers appear in clusters, followed by purple-black berries in the fall. The glossy leaves are bronzy-green and turn reddish during the winter. The leaves and stems are spiny. Use as a hedge or barrier or on a slope in a winter or drought-tolerant garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for berberis sawfly and powdery mildew. Deer resistant. More information on Berberis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Berberis julianae Berberis verruculosa Berberis x gladwynensis 'William Penn'
Native alternatives Berberis canadensis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
This plant has lustrous, dark green leaves that turn a rich, bronze-red color in winter. Margins have spines.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
This plant has small, yellow flowers in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit detail
This plant has bluish-black fruit that persists into fall.
Stem detail
Spiny stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Attracts
Bees; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Hedge
Garden tags
#evergreen #bronze #yellow flowers #drought tolerant #deer browsing plant #full sun tolerant #spring flowers #winter interest #deer resistant #blue fruits #red leaves #fruits fall #shrub #spring interest #black fruits #winter color bronze #partial shade tolerant #spines #perennial #poisonous if ingested
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Spines/Thorns
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
Particularly resistant to
drought tolerant, seldom damaged by deer, and tolerates a range of soil types
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Bark; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Ingestion of the toxic parts can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Toxic principle
Berberine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Bark; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.