PLATE 7. 
BERBERIS DARWINI. 
Bevberis Darwini, Hook. Ic. PI. vii. t. 672; Moore, Gard. Mag. Bot. 1859, 129. 
Lindl. & Paxt. FI. Gard. 1851, 1. 46; Bot. Mag. t. 4590. 
Of the many evergreen species of Barberry, there is probably not one so 
popular, or so ornamental, as that which commemorates the great scientist, 
the late Chas. Darwin. It was he who first discovered it, but its introduction 
to our gardens from S. Chili was through Wm. Lobb, who was collecting 
plants and seeds in that region for Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter. 
B. Darwini forms a dense evergreen bush, which sometimes reaches a 
height of 10 or 12 feet. It is ornamental at all periods of the year owing to 
its reddish stems and the bright shining green of its wedge-shaped leaves, each 
of which is characterised by having from three to five bristles, or prickles. It 
is, however, particularly handsome in March and April, when short racemes of 
bright orange blossoms are drooping from the arching twiggy branches, in 
great profusion. Our plate gives a good idea of a few flowering sprays. It 
is, however, impossible to portray in a small space, the great beauty of this 
shrub when seen in large masses near the edges of ponds, lakes, or streams, or 
on rising ground. In such places the plants, if not too much crowded, develop 
all their natural grace and beauty. 
B. Darwini is perfectly hardy in the British Islands. It flourishes in any 
good and well-drained garden soil, and requires practically no attention beyond 
cutting out the old wood each year, and shortening back the longer shoots 
when the flowers are over. It may be readily increased either from seeds or 
cuttings. The seeds should be sown when ripe—say in October—in drills 
about an inch deep, and a foot apart. The following year—about the same 
time—the young plants should be transplanted, and so on for two or three 
seasons until they become large enough for placing in their permanent 
quarters. Cuttings of the ripened shoots, about 9ins. long, may be put in half 
their length in October or No\^ember; or half-ripened shoots may be inserted 
in a shady place during the summer months. 
Another very charming Barberry that may be associated with B. Darwini 
is B. stenophylla. This is considered to be a hybrid between Darwin’s 
Barberry and B. empetrifolia , and is remarkable for its long whip-like shoots, 
which are furnished with narrow pointed leaves. From the end of February 
till April the plants are wreathed with masses of bright yellow flowers, which 
never fail to attract attention. B. stenophylla may be treated in exactly the 
same way as B. Darwini . It requires plenty of space to develop, otherwise in 
a crowded state the plants become bare and leggy on the side away from 
the light. 
