Berberis hypokerina Airy Shaw

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Berberis hypokerina' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/berberis/berberis-hypokerina/). Accessed 2024-12-02.

Genus

Berberis

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

axillary: Situated in an axil.
glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
pendent: Hanging.
section: (sect.) Subdivision of a genus.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Berberis hypokerina' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/berberis/berberis-hypokerina/). Accessed 2024-12-02.

The large holly-like leaves of Berberis hypokerina with a striking silver reverse make it a distinct species among barberries. Image Jack Aldridge.

A glabrous, evergreen shrub, often 2 to 4 ft high and of stiff habit, but sometimes up to 8 ft. Leaves oblong-oval, up to 6 in. long and 21⁄2 in. wide, very stiff and leathery, the margins formidably set with triangular spines up to 3⁄8 in. long, dark green above, brilliantly silvery-white beneath. Flowers pale yellow, 3⁄8 in. across, up to fifteen crowded in stalkless axillary clusters; individual stalks 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in. long. Fruit blue-purple, of the ordinary elliptical barberry shape, 3⁄8 in. long, pendent below the branches on their short stalks.

Native of Upper Burma, discovered and introduced by Kingdon Ward in 1926, and given an Award of Merit in June 1932. Its foliage is most striking, especially in size and in the vividly white under-surface. In a wild state it is said to grow best in shade along with rhododendrons, vacciniums, etc. It belongs to the Wallichianae section of the genus and got its Award as “B. hookeri glauca”. Kingdon Ward, who describes it as a ‘splendid shrub’, found it at altitudes of 9,000 to 10,000 ft. Unfortunately, it has proved to be a sparsely branched shrub, of ungainly habit.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

The description of this species lacks an essential characteristic: the stems are without spines, the place of which is taken by normal leaves, as usually in B. insignis and B. incrassata.

An interesting hardy shrub, Berberis hypokerina is the only thornless Barberry. Image Tim Baxter.

Berberis hypokerina at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire, UK. 22 May 2013. Image John Anderson.

The small fruit of Berberis hypokerina are in clusters along the stem and mature to black. Image Tim Baxter.

A species requiring humidity, Berberis hypokerina grows into a large suckering shrub. Image Tim Baxter.

Foliage of Berberis hypokerina, the dark spineless branchlets are typical, from a plant at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK (9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Leaf shapes from elliptic to oblong elliptic on Berberis hypokerina (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Dark, glabrous purple-brown shoot of Berberis hypokerina (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Spiny triangular teeth on lamina margin of Berberis hypokerina (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Attractive pale lamina lower surface with obvious venation pattern on Berberis hypokerina (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Dark bluish-purple fruits on Berberis hypokerina (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 9 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

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