Plant Berberis in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It copes well with most soil types, including clay, as long as drainage is good. Space plants with their eventual size in mind and water regularly during dry spells until well established.

For deciduous barberry, cut back robustly, if required, in late winter or early spring to rejuvenate plants or control their size. Easily producing regrowth from older wood, remove any dead, damaged, or congested stems, and thin out what remains to encourage strong new shoots.