Barberry

Profile

Family

Berberidaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

3 m

Spread

2 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

70 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 3–7

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

4 – 7

Synonyms

Berberitze

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit - raw or cooked. Rich in Vitamin C, it has a very sour taste and is mainly used in preserves, although some children and adults seem to enjoy it raw when fully ripe. A refreshing lemon-like drink can be made from the fruit. The fruits are about 10 mm long. Young leaves are used for flavor or as a sour snack and can be used similarly to sorrel. The dried young leaves and shoot tips make a refreshing tea.

Medicinal: The roots of Berberis species are utilized for treating ulcers, urinary tract discharges, eye inflammations, jaundice, and fever. They contain 2.1% berberine, while the stems contain 1.3%. In Nepal, the bark and wood are crushed, boiled, strained, and evaporated to form a viscous mass with antibacterial, laxative, and tonic properties. This mass is ingested for fever and applied externally for eye inflammations like conjunctivitis. Tender leaf buds can be chewed and held against aching teeth to treat dental caries. The fruit has cooling and laxative effects. Berberine found in the rhizomes of Berberis species exhibits potent antibacterial effects and is orally administered for treating intestinal infections, especially bacterial dysentery. It should not be used in conjunction with Glycyrrhiza species (licorice) as it may diminish the efficacy of berberine. Berberine has also demonstrated antitumor activities.

Other uses: Plants can be grown as a medium-sized hedge in exposed locations but cannot withstand extreme sea exposure. They are highly tolerant to pruning and can also be left untrimmed if necessary. A high-quality yellow dye can be extracted from the roots, bark, and stem, which is used not only on fabric but also for wood staining. The immature fruits are dried and used as beads. The wood is soft, very hard, fine-grained, and yellow, suitable for carvings, toothpicks, mosaics, and other crafts, as well as a fuel source.

Growing

Thriving in warm, moist, clayey soil, this plant is not picky and can also grow in thin, dry, and shallow soils. It does well in heavy clay soils and can thrive in full sun or light shade, although it requires moist soil when growing in the shade of trees. The Berberis is hardy up to about -35°C. A highly decorative plant, it was traditionally cultivated for its edible fruits. There are several named varieties, including 'Dulcis', with fruits that are sweet or slightly sour, and 'Asperma', a seedless form often used in France for making jam. Being an alternative host of wheat's 'black stem rust', the Berberis has been largely eradicated from its habitats. While it freely hybridizes with other members of its genus, it usually breeds fairly true to type. The plant can be heavily pruned and regenerates well from the base.

Propagation

Seeds are best sown immediately after ripening in a cold frame, where they should germinate in late winter or spring. Seeds from overripe fruits take longer to germinate, while stored seeds require cold treatment and should be sown in a cold frame as early as possible. Seedlings are susceptible to rot, so they should be well ventilated. Once the seedlings are large enough, they should be transplanted into individual pots and grown on in a cold frame. When they have grown sufficiently, they can be planted in their final position in autumn, but it is generally better to keep them in the cold frame over winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Germination rates average around 90%. Cuttings from semi-ripe shoots should be taken in July/August in a cold frame. Cuttings from mature wood of the current year, preferably with a heel, should be taken in October/November in a cold frame. Root suckers should be removed in late autumn/early winter and planted in situ or in pots, then planted out in late spring.

Notable

Specialties: drought and wind tolerant, commercially grown in Iran in Khorosan at temperatures ranging from -38° to +44°C and annual rainfall of only ~180mm; varieties include 'Apserma' (seedless), 'Dulcis', or large-fruited: B. koreana 'Rubin'; intermediate host of cereal fungal pest.

Origin & habitat

Barberry Coast. Naturally or possibly native in the country.

In Japan, there are many shrubs and hedges on hills and mountains.

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