Threespine barberry is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to central China and was introduced by Wilson in 1907. The shrub will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and wide in a rounded form that is more open in the shade. It will grow in full sun to partial shade in average to moist well-drained garden soils. The plant can spread by suckers and form thickets or by seed dispersed by the birds. Threespine barberry flowers in spring with pale yellow to whitish flowers that have a tinge of red on the outside in clusters of 3 to 5. The leaves are slender with spines at the margins and tips and the stems are very spiny. In fall the oval fruits turn black with a slight blue bloom. The plant provides four seasons of interest. This shrub can be used as a hedge or barrier or in an Asian, cottage or winter garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Blowing trash can get caught in the branches due to the spines. 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.
Fills a similar nicheBerberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'Berberis x gladwynensis 'William Penn'Salvia rosmarinus
Similar, less problematicViburnum carlesii 'Compactum'Viburnum deamii All That Glitters® 'SMVDLS'Viburnum deamii All That Glows® 'SMVDBL'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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 drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
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
Arching; Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Whorled
Leaf shape
Linear; Oblanceolate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, bright green leaves; purplish-red winter color with sharp tips. Margins curved with spines on the sides and tip. The undersides are somewhat glaucous. They are 1 to 2 inches long and 1/2 inch or less wide.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
In spring, pale yellow to white flowers with a red tinge on the outside appear in clusters of 3 to 5 on short stems.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
0.3-in., bluish-black fruit
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Brown stems have 3 parted spines
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Native Central China
Wildlife value
Birds will eat the fruits.
Attracts
Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Security