Any of the almost 500 species of thorny evergreen or deciduous shrubs constituting the genus Berberis .
The genus is the largest and most important group in the family Berberidaceae, of the buttercup order. Most barberries are native to the northern temperate zone, particularly Asia. Barberry bushes have yellow wood and yellow flowers. The fruit of several species is made into jellies. Other members of the same family include heavenly bamboo ( Nandina domestica ), an indoor potted plant; mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum ), a woodland wildflower; Epimedium , a ground cover; and Oregon grape ( Mahonia ), a genus of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs.
American barberry ( Berberis canadensis ).
Walter Chandoha