Prickly Shrubs For Prickly Gardeners

Prickly Shrubs For Prickly Gardeners

Mahonia 'Charity'

I am not suggesting you want to keep your neighbours out of your garden but there are some circumstances where a Prickly Shrub is just what the doctor ordered.

Choice Prickly Shrubs

  • Mahonias scores highly on my list. It is evergreen and the leaves are quite prickly. The flowers are a joy in late winter in a bright yellow cluster with a wonderful scent.
  • The Berberis family of shrubs include evergreen and deciduous varieties. I particularly like the evergreen, sharp leaved Berberis Darwinii with orange flowers.
  • Pyracantha or the Firethorn is popular with orange-scarlet berries. Try the freely available Pyracatha coccinea lalandii
  • Roses particularly the Rugarosa and wild species can be a feast of prickles to suit most occasions.
  • Holly is planted just outside my window in a mixed hedge that the birds love.

Holly in the Wild

Other Prickly Shrubs to Consider

  • Hawthorns and Blackthorns
  • Barberry
  • Gorse
  • Rosa Fruhlings and other rambling roses.
  • Chaenomeles x superba ‘Pink Lady’
  • Mahonia
  • Berberis thunbergii or darwinii

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