Scarlet barberry berries in the autumn light by Silva Wischeropp

I discovered these beautiful, scarlet barberry berries on 26 September 2026 in the late afternoon whilst out on a nature walk in the Blankenfelde-Pankow Botanical Public Park.
The photograph was taken with a NIKON D800 (lens: NIKKOR 24.0–70.0 mm f/2.8).

The special appeal of the barberry in autumn lies above all in its spectacular change of colour and its profusion of fruit. Whilst many garden plants fade in autumn, the barberry (also known as sourthorn) is now at its very best.

Here are the main reasons for its autumnal charm:
Vibrant autumnal foliage:
Depending on the variety, the leaves turn an intense scarlet, orange or bright yellow. The red varieties in particular (such as the blood barberry) develop a striking brilliance.

Vibrant fruit display:
From late summer onwards, the elongated, coral-red to deep-red berries ripen. They often hang in dense clusters from the twigs and provide a striking contrast to the foliage.

Attractive well into winter:
When the plant sheds its leaves in late autumn, the bright berries often remain clinging to the thorny branches well into winter. This provides lovely splashes of colour in the garden, even when there is snow.

A valuable source of food for birds:
For wildlife, the barberry is a blessing in autumn. The berries serve as an important source of food for native birds before winter, whilst the dense, thorny branches offer protection from predators.