Berberis x aquisargentii (BER-ber-is AH-kwi-sar-JEN-tee-eye)
Family: BerberidaceaeNon-nativeShrub
ShrubNon-native
This plant is an artificial hybrid of Berberis aquifolium and Berberis sargentiana. Berberis aquifolium is native to northwestern North America, while B. sargentiana is native to China. The species epithet is a portmanteau of the epithets of the two parents. The hybrid was first made in Sweden in 1943. Even though this plant can grow in colder climates it will only bloom or set fruit in longer warm climate areas. It is a shrub that grows 6 feet tall and wide. It has traits of both parents, having spiny, evergreen trifoliolate leaves and yellow flowers that appear in late winter to early spring. This plant prefers partial to full shade and moist well-drained soils. Plant in a woodland setting. Insect Pests, Disease, or Other Plant Problems: powdery mildew and the beberis sawfly More information on Berberis .
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Three types of leaves. Leaves on strong shoots sessile, trifoliolate, the terminal leaflet longest, 23⁄4 to 31⁄4 in. long, very thick and rigid, glossy above, armed on each side with mostly five or six long spine-pointed teeth, apex narrowly acute, also terminated by a spine. Lateral leaflets much smaller. The leaves of the second kind are borne in the axils of the first kind. They are thinner, shortly stalked, oblong-elliptic, 21⁄2 to 31⁄4 in. long, veiny and slightly glossy above, edged on each side with many fine, closely set, spiny teeth and are mostly simple. Leaves of intermediate form also, which are more coarsely toothed, spinier and glossier above than in the second type.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
Yellow flowers (in tight clusters) generally bloom from late winter to early spring (January - March). Flowers are small. Flowers only in areas with long warm summers.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit detail
Fruits do not always appear, but if they do appear, it will be berries that are black.