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Solved What shrub is this?

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by 1975VW, Apr 8, 2026 at 9:59 AM.

  1. 1975VW

    1975VW Apprentice Gardener

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    Hello
    My son has been doing work experience at a retired botanic garden in Wiltshire. This beautiful flowering shrub is thriving in this week’s warm weather but nobody seems to be able to identify it. Any suggestions as to what it is? thank you

    3cc5f341-a83b-4265-b4d7-c44d309a51c8.jpeg 4faf50fd-bc53-4cb5-8636-1b45414c8525.jpeg IMG_0590.jpeg
     
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      Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2026 at 9:52 PM
    • CarolineL

      CarolineL Total Gardener

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      Google lens says it's Berberis valdiviana. But the foliage doesn't look as shiny as Berberis - also not sure of the scale - a hand in shot would help please!
      It looks great though.
       
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      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        I agree with @CarolineL foliage is not right for B valdivana I have that in my garden.
        A couple of questions roughly how tall is the shrub and are there any spines on it?
         
      • 1975VW

        1975VW Apprentice Gardener

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        It’s easily 4m tall but it has been untended for some years and left to do its own thing. I’ve taken a better photo of the tiny flowers and leaves and a shot with a hand so you can get an idea of size! And no spikes or spines on it at all as far as I can see Thank you
         

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      • Silver surfer

        Silver surfer PLANTAHOLIC

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        Original image enlarged.
        IMG_0597 08-04-2026 22-23-17.jpeg



        Berberis valdiviana looks good to me.
        Pics from our old garden in April BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 20-04-2011 14-52-37.JPG BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 20-04-2011 14-53-12.JPG BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 20-04-2011 19-20-04.JPG

        Berberis valdiviana - Trees and Shrubs Online

        Quote from link above.
        A sturdy evergreen shrub 8 to 12 ft high; shoots glabrous, formidably armed with stiff, three-pronged spines 1 to 11⁄2 in. long, but sometimes quite unarmed; spines grooved on the lower side. Leaves 3⁄4 to 3 in. long, 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 in. wide, oval to oval-oblong, the base cuneate to rounded, the apex abruptly narrowed to a mucro, varying from sparsely spiny-toothed to entire, glabrous, glossy; stalk 1⁄4 in. or less long. Flowers saffron yellow, 3⁄16 in. wide, borne twenty to thirty together densely on glabrous, pendulous racemes 1 to 11⁄2 in. long. Fruit roundish ovoid, 3⁄16 in. long, purple, bloomy; stigma very prominent. Bot. Mag., n.s., t. 139.

        These leaves are from a different garden ..NT. at Threave in Dumfries and galloway and look different...read above to explain.

        BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 14-09-2023 15-58-040.JPG BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 14-09-2023 15-59-50.JPG BERBERIS  VALDIVIANA 14-09-2023 16-00-10.JPG
         
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          Last edited: Apr 8, 2026 at 10:26 PM
        • CarolineL

          CarolineL Total Gardener

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          Oh that's interesting @Silver surfer - a lot of variation in leaf and thorns. It looks cracking @1975VW - I think I'm going to have to search for a thornless clone somehow
           
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          • 1975VW

            1975VW Apprentice Gardener

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            • NigelJ

              NigelJ Total Gardener

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              The one at RHS Rosemoor is over 10 m tall and in flower it's like a yellow wall.
              Mine is just over 1 m and nearly 3 years old, no signs of flowers yet and the shoots are just developing this spring.
               
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