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Berberis julianae

Berberis Lempergiana · Chinese Barberry · Great Barberry · Wintergreen Barberry

Family BerberidaceaeGenus Berberis

Clusters of small yellow flowers hanging along a spiny stem with narrow dark leaves, a bumblebee at one cluster
FlowerWouter HagensPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
6-10 ft1.8-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-8 ft1.2-2.4 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China North-Central, China South-CentralGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
6-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Wintergreen barberry, from central China, is a dense, spiny evergreen up to 3 m that is suitable for hedging. It is grown widely as an ornamental and is reported to have gone wild in scattered parts of the United States. Wikipedia: Berberis julianae

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 20, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 19, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 49 days.

94% germination in 28–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107Public domain
Show the original text
Berberis (Berberidaceae). B. julianae germ. best at 40(92% in 8-12 w) or outdoor treatment (88% in late April and early May) and poorer in 70(18% in 3-11 w)-40(57% in 9-12 w)-70(12% in 2- 7 d). Seeds DS 6 m at 70 in the WC state also germ. best at 40(94% in 4-7w) and less in 70(74% in 1-8 w). Although germination at 70 was markedly improved by DS; starting at 40 was still the best. Treatment of the DS seeds with GA-3 had no effect on the rate or percent germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

92% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107Public domain
Show the original text
Berberis (Berberidaceae). B. julianae germ. best at 40(92% in 8-12 w) or outdoor treatment (88% in late April and early May) and poorer in 70(18% in 3-11 w)-40(57% in 9-12 w)-70(12% in 2- 7 d). Seeds DS 6 m at 70 in the WC state also germ. best at 40(94% in 4-7w) and less in 70(74% in 1-8 w). Although germination at 70 was markedly improved by DS; starting at 40 was still the best. Treatment of the DS seeds with GA-3 had no effect on the rate or percent germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in late April and early May.

No stated waiting before sowing.

88% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107Public domain
Show the original text
Berberis (Berberidaceae). B. julianae germ. best at 40(92% in 8-12 w) or outdoor treatment (88% in late April and early May) and poorer in 70(18% in 3-11 w)-40(57% in 9-12 w)-70(12% in 2- 7 d). Seeds DS 6 m at 70 in the WC state also germ. best at 40(94% in 4-7w) and less in 70(74% in 1-8 w). Although germination at 70 was markedly improved by DS; starting at 40 was still the best. Treatment of the DS seeds with GA-3 had no effect on the rate or percent germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 13, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 12, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

74% germination in 7–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107Public domain
Show the original text
Berberis (Berberidaceae). B. julianae germ. best at 40(92% in 8-12 w) or outdoor treatment (88% in late April and early May) and poorer in 70(18% in 3-11 w)-40(57% in 9-12 w)-70(12% in 2- 7 d). Seeds DS 6 m at 70 in the WC state also germ. best at 40(94% in 4-7w) and less in 70(74% in 1-8 w). Although germination at 70 was markedly improved by DS; starting at 40 was still the best. Treatment of the DS seeds with GA-3 had no effect on the rate or percent germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    18 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    12 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 84 days.

57% germination in 63–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107Public domain
Show the original text
Berberis (Berberidaceae). B. julianae germ. best at 40(92% in 8-12 w) or outdoor treatment (88% in late April and early May) and poorer in 70(18% in 3-11 w)-40(57% in 9-12 w)-70(12% in 2- 7 d). Seeds DS 6 m at 70 in the WC state also germ. best at 40(94% in 4-7w) and less in 70(74% in 1-8 w). Although germination at 70 was markedly improved by DS; starting at 40 was still the best. Treatment of the DS seeds with GA-3 had no effect on the rate or percent germination at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Berberis p. 107. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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