Appearance

Growth form

This deciduous shrub has slender branches with single or three-part spines.

Leaves

Its narrow leaves gather on short shoots and usually have smooth edges.

Flowers

Small yellow flowers hang together in clusters. The outer parts of the flowers may look reddish.

Fruit

The berries are elongated and turn red as they ripen.

Look-alikes

Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii

Japanese barberry usually bears one to four flowers in a short group. This species has a longer, drooping cluster with many flowers.

Why they get mixed up · Both have small leaves, spines, yellow flowers, and red fruit.

Where it lives

Range

Its documented native range runs from Mongolia and northern China into Korea.

Name and classification

About the name

This species has also been called Berberis poiretii.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed