Does a Barberry Bush Stay Evergreen?

Barberry bushes are commonly used as ornamental shrubs, and several species are native to the United States. Depending on which variety of barberry you have, it could be either deciduous or evergreen.

Characteristics

The primary difference between deciduous and evergreen plants is that deciduous plants shed their leaves in fall and regrow them in the spring; evergreen plants keep their leaves year-round.

Deciduous Barberry

Several barberry bushes are deciduous. These include mentor barberry, Japanese barberry, Japanese red-leaf barberry, wintergreen barberry and several others.

Evergreen Barberry

Various evergreen barberry bushes are also available. These include, among others, creeping barberry, Texas barberry, trifoliate barberry, red barberry and hollyleaved barberry.

Considerations

If you plan to add barberry bushes to your lawn or garden, consult a USDA hardiness zone map and talk to your county agricultural extension agent to decide which varieties are best-suited to your specific climate.

References

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Native Plant Database: Barberry
• Texas A&M University: Low Water Use Shrubs