How big does Wintergreen barberry grow?

About 2 m × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 1.8–3 m × 1.2–2.5 m.

What soil does Wintergreen barberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Wintergreen barberry hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

Is Wintergreen barberry toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

How far from the house should Wintergreen barberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Wintergreen barberry be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2.5 plants per metre.

When does Wintergreen barberry flower?

Flowering: April–June, yellow.

How much water does Wintergreen barberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Wintergreen barberry

Berberis julianae

Wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) is a hedge plant that reaches 2 m × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Mildly toxic to children.

Illustration of Wintergreen barberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A dense evergreen barberry with glossy spiny-edged leaves and three-pronged thorns 2 to 4 cm long: clipped or left free it makes a practically impenetrable security hedge. Fragrant yellow flowers come in spring, bloomy blue-black berries in autumn, and some of the leaves turn red and bronze for winter. It is undemanding and accepts most well-drained soils, but pruning is a job for thick gloves and it does not belong next to paths or play areas.

Watch out for

It is among the hardiest evergreen barberries, yet in Central Europe hard, windy, snowless winters can brown the foliage and cause heavy leaf drop through winter desiccation, so keep it out of sweeping winds. Powdery mildew, aphids and berberis sawfly can occur. The long thorns and spiny leaves make pruning and clearing litter around the base awkward. In Czechia it is recorded as a casual garden escape (bird-sown), but it is not on the EU, Hungarian or Slovak invasive lists.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 2 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–June, yellow

Group	Hedge
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1.8–3 m × 1.2–2.5 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	April–June, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Plants for screening Evergreen plants Fragrant plants Plants with autumn colour

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

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