Species box leaf barberry

box leaf barberry

Berberis buxifolia

Also Known As - dwarf Magellan barberry
Box Leaf Barberry (Berberis buxifolia) is a slow-growing shrub with thick, waxy, glossy, dark green leaves. This species of Barberry is from southern Chile and Argentina and can grow up to four feet tall in containers and up to eight feet tall if grown in the ground. Its leaves are small and oval-shaped, resembling a box. In spring, the shrub produces clusters of tiny yellow-orange flowers which later give way to round, reddish berry-like fruits in autumn. The fruits are edible but not particularly tasty. Its dense foliage makes it an excellent choice for hedges and a great border plant. It can also tolerate full sun or partial shade and needs very little maintenance.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Greenwood Cuttings,Greenwood Cuttings

Hardiness Zone:

6

Flowers:

Showy, Yellow Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained

Fruits:

red,yellow,orange Fruits In Summer Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

watering

Box leaf Barberry (Berberis buxifolia) prefer a well draining soil, and should be watered deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. On average, water thoroughly every 7 - 14 days in the summer and every 14-21 days in the winter. It is important to adjust the frequency depending on your soil type, environmental conditions and the amount of rainfall. Applying a 2-4'' layer of mulch around the base of the plant will help retain soil moisture and discourage weed growth.

sunlight

Box leaf barberry (Berberis buxifolia) is a full sun loving plant, meaning that it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day to be healthy. It prefers full sun from around 8 am to 6 pm every day. It can tolerate partial shade, however, it will not tolerate full shade. Sunlight helps this plant species photosynthesize efficiently and grow its foliage. In times of too little sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow or become elongated. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the box leaf barberry gets the optimal amount of sunlight each day.

pruning

Box leaf barberry should be pruned in the spring, immediately after the plant has finished blooming. It should be pruned to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches, as well as any branches that are excessively leggy. The pruning should also be done to help create an overall pleasing form, while still leaving enough foliage to ensure the plant remains healthy and beautiful. Pruning should be done carefully and thoroughly to ensure that no more than 1-third of the total foliage is removed—remove too much and the plant may suffer from shock and die.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Berberis buxifolia typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Berberis buxifolia typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Berberis buxifolia typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map