Berberis darwinii
Berberis darwinii can provide a good protective nesting site, within its dense thorny branches for birds. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. Autumn berries provide food for birds.
Wordless Wednesday – Late Winter Flower Power – Berberis darwinii
Gardening Jules 
Gorgeous. Love the bright hue! 💟
I really like this colour too and there is much to love about this plant except the thorns……
So pretty. Is that blooming in your garden now?
After 3 days of springlike weather, we have snow again here.
Yes, its a little early but our mild weather has helped this shrub flower early. I am sorry to hear you have snow again Cynthia, I hope Spring is on its way soon for you.
Beautiful blooms and great for wildlife–a win/win, I’d say!
The Berberis group of plants have plenty to offer for our wildlife and this one is packed with the most startling orange flowers, a win/win indeed!
Beautiful but not something I am familiar with. Amelia
I am sure you’d know it if, I’d shown a wider photograph. The flowers are actually very small so are the sharp holly like leaves and the stems very thorny. It wasn’t until I looked at my photographs I realised I had not shown the best angle.
Perhaps, but I don’t think it is widely used over here. It sounds a great plant for wildlife.
Beautiful and really good shrub but Seriously scratchy!
I have spent most of today with a Berberis thorn in my finger and have only just managed to get it out, seriously scratchy is right!
ouch
Lovely photo! I had a Berberis darwinii in a former garden and loved it despite its thorns. Nothing is quite so orange!
I love its zingy colour Clare. I hope you enjoyed some sunshine today, after this mornings frost we had a beautiful sunny afternoon here.
Yes, thank-you we had a beautiful day.
Lovely!
Its a great shrub for wildlife Donna, I hope all is well and your winter is heading towards some signs of spring.
Beautiful colour.
Its grown on me over the years and now I love this colour! 🙂
What a colour!!!! Wonderful 🙂
I love a bit of zingy orange, despite the thorns!
I am not a great fan of Berberis, especially to work with, that one though could change my mind!
Yes, I completely hear that, I used to work in a garden with an enormous B. julianae, which I could of cheerfully asked to be ripped out!
It’s a lethal plant for the unwary but the flowers are always very pretty. Lovely photo.
I wonder if any birds are ever caught by the thorns, at least the spines stop predators, including humans!
I doubt if birds are caught by the thorns – large birds wouldn’t really be able to get in amongst them and small birds would be able to manouevre okay I think. Size is relative – some of the thorns of these plants are a similar size to a bird’s claws or nails.
It is a bit early. What a bright cheery colour it is. The Berberis family is very useful.
Another product of our mild winter, I wonder how the Spring will play out with so many early flowers.
Uh, early indeed but such a welcome sight. We had one just outside the bedroom window in Ireland and it was such a feature all year. Unlike most people I actually love Berberis.
I have a friend Annette, who grows this type of Berberis as a small tree, which provides shade in the height of the Summer and in the Autumn he watches flocks of small birds on the berries. There are lots of positives, I’d be happy to have one out side of my bedroom window too!
think I’m going to have to find room for one again, Julie
Fabulous color! I didn’t know about this species of Berberis.
Its a great shrub for wildlife Jason, the colour is right up your street too!
A lovely plant despite its thorns. I had one in my garden in South Wales years ago whose flowers were always avidly consumed by House Sparrows!
Did you intend to say berries Theresa?
No, honestly they literally came for the berberis flowers! It is a known thing House Sparrows do with yellow flowers – they also used to devour my yellow crocus flowers too, and then later those of the red-hot pokers (Kniphophia)! Quite frustrating when you love the flowers and the birds!
Beautiful! I love how bright and cheery it is! 🙂