Plant
- Small to medium shrub
- Numerous species
- Deciduous or broad-leaved evergreen
- Japanese barberry considered invasive
Twig
- Alternate leaf arrangement
- Spines at nodes
Leaf
- Small, ½-2" long
- Alternate, simple
- Usually shiny or waxy
- Spines along leaf edge on some species
Flower
- Small, up to ¼" wide
- 6 petals and 6 sepals (often same color as petals)
- Yellow or orange
Fruit
- Berry
- Small, up to ½" wide
- Round or oval
- Red to dark blue
Thorn