Berberis can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs. Most of the family are hardy in Britain and will grow well in most soils. They have characteristically spiny shoots bearing simple, often sharp toothed leaves, with varying shades of yellow and orange flowers through spring and summer, followed by small red, black or blue fruits/berries in the autumn and small yellow or orange flowers in axillary clusters or racemes, followed by small berries.
Berberis has a 'useful' past - historically used in foods, medicines, dyes and stains!