Berberis darwinii

571-013D4 Berberis darwinii ( Barberry )
Joy Creek Photo Archive (c) all rights reserved	Toward the end of winter in the Pacific Northwest, when the weather is still unsettled and grey, we are always cheered by the orange glow of the flowers of Berberis darwinii. We give thanks to Charles Darwin who discovered the evergreen shrub as the name suggests and to plantsman William Lobb who brought the plant back to Europe in 1849. Humans are not the only ones who are cheered by the bloom. It seems the bees also are delighted with their bounty. Later in the season, the birds arrive to eat the small fruits. These are edible and some people harvest them for jams and jellies. Because it is evergreen as well as thorny, this barberry is often used as a hedge or barrier. The shrub committee of the Great Plant Picks program of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden also admired it and recommend it as a great plant for Northwest gardens. March, April. 8 ft. x 6 ft. Orange flowers *Sun, Part Shade Zones 7, 8, 9*