barberry
noun
bar·ber·ry ˈbär-ˌber-ē 
-ˌbe-rē
: any of a genus (Berberis of the family Berberidaceae, the barberry family) of shrubs usually having spines, usually yellow flowers, and oblong red or blackish berries
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Examples are amur maple, burning bush, lily-of-the-valley, orange daylily, creeping bellflower and various barberry. 
Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Many common ornamental plants, such as Japanese barberry and burning bush, create serious environmental problems in natural areas outside your garden. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 2 Jan. 2022 Some small trials have shown that berberine, a yellow compound extracted from many shrubs including barberry -- from which comes its name -- can improve both cholesterol and blood sugar. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 6 Dec. 2021 Japanese barberry has long been used as an ornamental, bushy plant because its leaves transform from green to a purplish color in the fall. Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2021 A century and a half later, Japanese barberry is invasive across the eastern and midwestern U.S. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2021 And beyond being invasive, the Japanese barberry also carries diseases that can hurt Indiana crops, Abraham said. Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2021 The rule banned the ubiquitous Japanese barberry and and wintercreeper. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2021 The rule banned the ubiquitous Japanese barberry and and wintercreeper. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2021 See More
Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Many common ornamental plants, such as Japanese barberry and burning bush, create serious environmental problems in natural areas outside your garden. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 2 Jan. 2022 Some small trials have shown that berberine, a yellow compound extracted from many shrubs including barberry -- from which comes its name -- can improve both cholesterol and blood sugar. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 6 Dec. 2021 Japanese barberry has long been used as an ornamental, bushy plant because its leaves transform from green to a purplish color in the fall. Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2021 A century and a half later, Japanese barberry is invasive across the eastern and midwestern U.S. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2021 And beyond being invasive, the Japanese barberry also carries diseases that can hurt Indiana crops, Abraham said. Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2021 The rule banned the ubiquitous Japanese barberry and and wintercreeper. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2021 The rule banned the ubiquitous Japanese barberry and and wintercreeper. London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English berberie, from Medieval Latin berberis, from Arabic barbārīs
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
barberry
noun
bar·ber·ry
ˈbär-ˌber-ē, British often & US sometimes -b(ə-)rē
plural barberries
1
: any shrub of the genus Berberis
2
a
: an evergreen shrub of the genus Mahonia (especially M. aquifolium)
b
: berberis sense 2