Berries might depend on just how much shade there is. If they were going to have berries, it seems like fall would be the time you would see them. How tall are they? I've seen green-leaved barberries doing fine out in part-shady woods. It is considered invasive in Maine, so you'll get along fine with it if you don't mind letting it take over the whole area, or if you don't mind clipping it back from wherever you don't want it. When I moved here 5 years ago there was one small one growing in the base of my lilac. I clipped it to the ground once in spring for 3 the first years and it hasn't come back. Others might have even longer experience with barberries to share with you.

how do you make homemade barberry candles...I can only think of bay scented candles. SOunds really interesting.

Are you talking about barberries (Berberis sp.) or bayberries (Myrica pensylvanica)? Barberries (with thorns) are an inavsive exotic plant and absolutely should be removed. Bayberries are native here and if you have room for the large shrubs that they eventually become you might want to keep them.

Oh, my answer was definitely about berberis. I guess bayberry makes more sense for candlemakers.

Hello:Dollmaker,Green Hands,and,Gardengardengardenga,thank you all for the great advice.Sure do thank Green Hands for helping me identify my 18 inch bushes as Bayberry's(no thorns).I was all set to get rid of them "Barberry's".I think I will keep a few of them.I hope to get some berries for candles.Although I have never made candles myself yet!,there is a wonderful site at eHow.com with over 15,000 different How too's.The mind boggles at what I'll be trying next this upcoming winter.Regards Josie _2