For lovely shades of purple, consider the recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea. Its dark purple leaves sit on slightly lighter shaded stems, before transforming into vibrant shades of orange and red in Autumn. The attractive foliage is joined by lovely cup-shaped, spring flowers, displaying complementary tints of yellow and red, followed by bright red berries. Being deciduous, the leaves will fall during winter but the spikes and dense framework of this plant provide cover throughout the cold months. Plant Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea as a single species hedge for a unique look or utilise the dark tints as a background to emphasise brighter coloured plants and shrubs. For more Barberry plants with purple foliage take a look at Berberis x ottawensis.

Elaborate forms of purple foliage are displayed by the variegated leaf colour of Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’. Recognised by the RHS receiving the Award of Garden Merit, this Berberis shrub is the perfect way to bring an intricate coloured feature to your green space. Adore the beautiful marbled effect of dark and light pink leaves exhibited by Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’ and the complex changing colours of this hedging plant which continue as its leaves turn a fiery red in Autumn before falling in winter. Beautiful flowers are also produced by Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’ which develops contrasting yellow flowers trailed by glossy red fruits.

Berberis thunbergii, also known as Japanese Barberry, is famous for its light green foliage that boasts dominant shades of opposing reds, yellows and orange in autumn. The extravagant autumn foliage is joined by oval berries that showcase shiny shades of scarlet red, which appear after the soft yellow flowers in spring. Its deciduous nature sees its colourful foliage fall from the branches in winter. Still, like all of our deciduous Bareberry hedging plants, its intertwining branches and sharp spikes provide sufficient winter cover.

Choose from a range of evergreen Barberry bushes that will offer year-round interest. The ever-present foliage offers constant cover, which not only creates endless visual impact but plays a vital role in wildlife's survival as it provides excellent protection for birds, insects and other small animals during winter. The sleek, dark green leaves of Berberis julianae and Berberis x stenophylla sit on long woody stems, enriched by the cluster of spring flowers that parade astonishing shades of yellow, followed by distinctive blueberries in autumn.

Yet another recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, Berberis darwinii is one of our most popular evergreen options for its alternating colour. Although it is evergreen, this common shrub adopts rusty red autumn colours and remains throughout winter. This exceptional characteristic, also experienced by Berberis juliane, allows you to gain seasonal colour without losing foliage over winter.

Seen profusely in numerous garden designs for their ability to create structure, highlighting pathways and larger garden features or to establish specific focal points, low and slow-growing Barberry plants are a gardener's dream. Great alternatives to the frequently used Box, Japanese Holly and Euonymous 'Jean Hugues', the compact nature of our low and slow-growing Barberry plants are also commonly planted as pedestrian barriers, positioned underneath windows, around the outskirts of a garden and other access points.

With an average growth rate of 10-20cm per year, ideal for hedges up to 1m in height, these Berberis shrubs require little maintenance. Include planting essentials such as a self-irrigation kit to your garden, and you can care for your prickly feature from the comfort of your living room. Choose from Berberis thunbergii 'Rose glow', Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea and Berberis thunbergii to satisfy your low and slow-growing gardening needs.

Taller-growing species are valued for crime prevention; being very dense, viciously spiny shrubs, they make very effective barriers, impenetrable to burglars. Their sizable stature of up to 3m in height and an average growth rate of 30-60cm per year, tall growing Berberis plants bring efficient impact to a garden as it creates the perfect privacy screen, capable of reducing the amount of wind and noise from passing through it. Choose form Berberis darwinii, Berberis julianae, Berberis x stenophylla and Berberis x ottawensis to achieve a large Berberis hedge.

Plant Barberry plants in a single row or a double staggered row depending on the lateral dimension you wish your final hedge to be. Barberry bushy appearance means they can be left to grow for a natural-looking feature, or they can be trimmed and shaped to generate a more formal aesthetic. Although our selection of Berberis plants forms an incredible single species hedge, when combined they become a wondrous hedgerow, filled with an assortment of colours, shapes and textures with interest for every season.

Prune Berberis in Autumn after the berries have fallen or taken by hungry birds by either cutting back long branches or maintaining its overall shape.

We have a great selection of prickly alternatives including a collection of both evergreen and deciduous species with flowers and berries in abundance, providing seasonal colour and wildlife interest all year round.