Berberis darwinii or a hybrid ?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by chimera, May 26, 2008.

  1. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    Fraser Valley, B.C. ,Canada
    Plant is about H 2m. { H 6'} with blue berries in June. Descriptions read B. darwinii as having orange flowers, so not sure if there is also a yellow flowered form or could it be a hybrid ? Thanks for your time.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,509
    Likes Received:
    537
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    I'd say that's within the range of variation in flower colour of B. darwinii. The leaves do look a bit short/broad and rather over-prominently 3-lobed, though, so a hybrid is possible.
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Such details vary with which introduction of the species you are looking at.
     
  4. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    Fraser Valley, B.C. ,Canada
    Yes , hard to be certain, thank you both for the replies.
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Maybe at UBC or other local institution you can use a key and/or manual with technical description to make certain.
     
  6. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,609
    Likes Received:
    645
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Heh, we have our own hybridizing Berberis to sort out!
     
  7. Gordo

    Gordo Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Camano Island, WA
    For color comparison purposes, here is a photo of B. darwinii growing in my garden. Sorry for the poor quality - the wind was blowing.



    Berberis Darwinii.jpg
     
  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,509
    Likes Received:
    537
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    Here's another
     

    Attached Files:

  9. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    Fraser Valley, B.C. ,Canada
    Much appreciated everybody, didn't realize the leaves could be so variable and noticing a little variation on the plants leaves here now. A few plants grown from seed , labeled B. darwinii, and no significant differences noticed between them yet, to me. Similar flower colouring among the plants, also.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2008
  10. silver_creek

    silver_creek Active Member

    Messages:
    484
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Bellingham, WA, usa
    Pretty common hybrid is Berberis 'William Penn'. Leaves are a little broader than darwiniii, flowers more golden, but could eventually reach that size.
     
  11. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,370
    Likes Received:
    834
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    That one is quite dissimilar, actually, with bigger spines and leaves both much bigger and of a different shape, and flowers borne subordinately to the leaves, without the conspicuous bunches borne above the leaves that Darwin barberry produces as part of its annual show.

    http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=berberis+william+penn&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

    If this isn't a Darwin barberry it will then, in fact be a hybrid of it or some less familiar closely related species.

    http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/beda5.htm
     
  12. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    Fraser Valley, B.C. ,Canada
    Informative site helps a lot , thanks Ron.
     

Share This Page