Berberis is a really useful, colourful, tough and versatile plant, most of which are prickly or spiny, good for security and for discouraging people and animals from taking short cuts.  They are good for hedging, and all have cup-shaped yellow to orange flowers in late spring. Most produce attractive reddish or black berries in autumn which usually persist all winter.  Berberis make good woodland plants and most are easy to please as long as soil is not too heavy or waterlogged.