Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry
Berberis darwinii Compacta
Darwin's Barberry
The plant was received in good condition despite my orders spending a full week in their box, which is because I am in Belgium. I always try, after letting them soak, to plant the plant on the same day of receipt. The Berberis has taken well.
Marianne, 31/03/2026
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Description
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta' is a compact variety of Darwin's barberry. It forms a small, spiny bush that decorates the garden all year round with its charming, dark green, evergreen foliage, which resembles small holly leaves! When young, the leaves are tinged with red before darkening, creating a beautiful contrast with the abundant spring flowering of yellow-orange bell-shaped flowers hanging from bright red pedicels. In autumn, bluish-green berries ripen to a dark purple-black and are highly appreciated by birds, adorning the bush until the onset of winter. It is the perfect choice for creating a border or low hedge that is aesthetically pleasing in all seasons. It is vigorous and can be planted in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soils, preferably not too dry.
Darwin's barberry is a shrub from the berberidaceae family, native to South America and well adapted to our climates. The southern regions of Argentina and the Patagonian Andes are the birthplaces of this plant, which is resistant to cold temperatures down to -15°C (5°F), as well as sea spray and poor, dry soils.
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta' has a bushy, dense habit with reddish-brown, thorny branches. Its growth is relatively slow, reaching an average size of 90cm (35.4in) in all directions after 10 years. From April to May, depending on the climate, numerous clusters of 4 to 10cm (1.6 - 3.9in) long, pendant, reddish peduncles bearing 10 to 30 small flowers, bloom on 1-year-old stems. The bell-shaped flowers are 1cm (0.4in) long and yellow-orange, sometimes streaked with light red. They are highly nectar-rich and followed by small, fleshy, egg-shaped fruits with a chalky blue hue measuring 7mm (0.3in), which turn dark purple-black when ripe. The evergreen foliage is another asset of this barberry. Small, 2 to 4cm (0.8 - 1.6in) long, leathery leaves emerge red-bronze before becoming shiny dark green, with lighter undersides. The leaves are toothed and spiny along the edges, similar to those of common holly.
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta' should be more widely planted in our gardens. It can easily replace boxwood or hawthorn in a low defensive hedge, which should not be excessively pruned as its naturally dense and neat habit does not require it. While its berries may be less spectacular than those of pyracantha, it has the advantage of maintaining modest dimensions and provides interesting fruit to feed wildlife, while offering more elegant foliage. However, it is a shame to confine it to the role of an anonymous defensive hedge shrub. It deserves to be showcased alongside variegated foliage or in front of a screen of larger shrubs with blue flowers (Ceanothus Puget Blue), pink, mauve, or white flowers (Abelia), red flowers (Japanese Quinces), or even yellow to orange flowers (Kerria japonica, Brooms, Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle). This shrub can also be planted in small rockeries to cover slopes or in low hedges to highlight the edge of a pathway.
Did you know?
Immature fruits are toxic due to a molecule called berberine, which is degraded during fruit ripening, their very acidic taste is not appreciated, and they contain many seeds. In South America, the bark, rich in tannins, as well as the roots, are used to treat dysentery. Yellow pigment extracted from the roots is also used to dye textiles.
Berberis darwinii Compacta - Barberry in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Berberis
darwinii
Compacta
Berberidaceae
Darwin's Barberry
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta' adapts to any well-drained soil, even clayey and slightly chalky. It dislikes waterlogged or excessively chalky soils, preferring soils rich in clay and slightly acidic. Once established, it withstands summer drought quite well and will do without watering in most regions. Its hardiness is around -15°C (5°F), after 2 or 3 years of cultivation but protect young plants with fleece if there is a risk of severe frost. It thrives in all exposures, even tolerating shade where it will be slightly less floriferous. The planting hole should be twice the size of the root ball. Space the Berberis about 1m (3 in 4ft) apart, add compost and water well. It is a bush that does not require pruning, but tolerates a light prune after flowering. It can occasionally be pruned to prevent it from becoming bare in the centre. Be careful not to touch the branches with bare hands as they have thorns that are difficult to remove once they have entered the skin.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.