William Penn Barberry 

Dense spiny shrub with dark green foliage that turns bronze in winter. Yellow flowers in spring.

In the landscape trade William Penn barberry is often grouped together in low growing hedges to direct foot traffic as this plant has 3/8” long sharp thorns.

This barberry variant grows to a height of 4’ but can spread to a width of 6’. Growing in mounding shape it bears gracefully arching branches bearing simple alternate leaves which are approximately 1” long and ½” wide. The dark green leaves have spines along their margins. In the fall the leaves turn a bronze-red color.

In the spring globe shaped yellow flowers appear, forming in the clusters at the base of the leaves. In August these flowers give rise to tubular red fruit which songbirds enjoy.

3-pronged spines appear all along the stems of this cultivar.

Highly adapted to most site and soil conditions. Can be arranged in a hedge and sheared if desired. Once established this cultivar is considered drought tolerant.