Berberis aquifolium Pursh

Shrubs , evergreen, 0.3-3(-4.5) m. Stems usually monomorphic, seldom with short axillary shoots. Bark of 2d-year stems gray-brown or purplish, glabrous. Bud scales 4-8(-14) mm, deciduous. Spines absent. Leaves 5-9-foliolate; petioles 1-6 cm. Leaflet blades thin and flexible or rather rigid; surfaces abaxially glossy, smooth, adaxially glossy, green; terminal leaflet stalked, blade 5.1-8.7(-14.5) × 2.4-4.5(-5.5) cm, 1.7-2.5 times as long as wide; lateral leaflet blades lance-ovate to lance-elliptic, 1(-3)-veined from base, base obtuse or truncate, rarely weakly cordate, margins plane or undulate, toothed, each with 5-21 teeth 0-2 mm tipped with spines to 0.8-2.2 × 0.2-0.3 mm, apex acute or sometimes obtuse or rounded. Inflorescences racemose, dense, 30-60-flowered, 3-9(-11) cm; bracteoles membranous, apex rounded or obtuse, sometimes apiculate. Flowers: anther filaments with distal pair of recurved lateral teeth. Berries blue, glaucous, oblong-ovoid, 6-10 mm, juicy, solid. 2 n = 28, 56.

It is a temperate plant. It is very cold hardy. It will grow in a wide range of soils. It prefers a pH of 4.5-6.5. It won't grow well in limestone soils. It can tolerate shade. It grows well in open, dry, rocky areas. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

CAUTION: The berries are listed as poisonous. The fruit are edible and are also used for wine. The fruit are eaten fresh and also dried. The flowers are eaten and used to make a lemonade like drink.

Plants can be grown from seed sown in spring. Plants can be spaced 2 m apart of 50 cm apart if used for a hedge.