Evergreen, often low and suckering shrub 0.5–3 m high. Branchlets glabrous. Spines absent. Leaves pinnately divided, to 30 cm long, flexible or rigid; leaflets 5–9(–11), obliquely ovate, 5–10 cm long, 2– 5 cm wide, with 15–35 spines along the sides, upper surface glossy green, lower surface pale and dull. Racemes 5–8 cm long, 30–60-flowered; pedicle to 10 mm long; bracteoles absent; sepals ovate, 3–4 mm long; petals yellow, oblong or obovate, 5–7 mm long, inner petals shorter than outer. Berry globose, c. 6 mm long, dark blue with a waxy bloom. Flowers Sep.–Nov.
GipP, HSF, HNF. Native to North America, grown as an ornamental, persisting in old gardens.
Berberis aquifolium is often hybridised with other Berberis species making identification difficult.
