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Korean Barberry

Berberis koreana (BER-ber-is kor-ee-AH-nah)

Family: Berberidaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Korean barberry is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to Korea. The shrub will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and wide in full sun to partial shade. It is not picky about soil type as long as it is well-drained. Propagation is by stem cuttings and seeds. The plant will spread by suckers and form colonies. The yellow flowers appear in pendulous clusters in spring and are followed by showy oval red berries that may persist into winter. The spiny dark green leaves turn a deep purple in fall. There are numerous spines on the stems. Use the shrub as a specimen for four seasons of interest or in groups as a hedge or barrier. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Berberis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 69 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
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.

Native alternatives Berberis canadensis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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 texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Oval; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, medium to dark green leaves; 1 to 3 in. long; rounded apex; spines on leaf margins; red-purple fall color
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small yellow flowers in hanging clusters in mid-spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Small, waxy, egg-shaped, bright red berries in fall and winter
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish stems densely armed with short spines
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Korea
Wildlife value
Deer resistant
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Security
Garden tags
#deciduous #drought tolerant #shrub #spines #border planting #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #fall interest #showy fruits #perennial #weedy #poisonous if ingested
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Children; Spines/Thorns; Weedy
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Salt
Propagation
Root Cutting; Seed; Stem Cutting
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.