Berberis darwinii
| Berberis darwinii | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 11' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Berberis darwinii (common name: darwin's barberry)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[1]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[1], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[2]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[3]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a warm moist loamy soil in full sun or light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[4][5]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds on chalky soils if other conditions are suitable but prefers an acid soil[6]. Dislikes exposure to strong winds according to one report[4], whilst others say that it is a very wind hardy plant, tolerating maritime exposure[7][8][5]. Does not flower well in exposed positions[7]. Plants growing in a very exposed position on our trial grounds in Cornwall are flowering and fruiting well, they are rather slow growing but are looking very happy and healthy[K].
A very ornamental plant, it is hardy to about -15°c[6].
A good bee plant[9]. Birds love this fruit and will happily eat it all before it is fully ripe[K]. If you want to experience the fully ripe fruit then it might be necessary to find ways of keep the birds off the plants[K].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[10].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[5].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[5].
Range: S. America - S. Argentina, S. Chile.
Habitat: Moist shady woodland in the Patagonian mountains[11].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked and used in preserves[12][13][14][15]. An acid but very pleasant flavour, children seem particularly fond of the fruit[12][K]. When fully ripe, the fruit loses most of its acidity and makes very pleasant eating[K]. Unfortunately there is a lot of seed compared to the amount of flesh and this does detract somewhat from the pleasure of eating it[K]. The fruit goes very well raw in a muesli or cooked in a porridge[K]. The fruits are about 7mm long[5].
Medicinal: The root bark is tonic[16][17].
Berberine, universally present in all parts of Berberis species but especially the rhizomes, has marked antibacterial effects, especially upon the urinary system. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[18]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[18]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[18].
Usage: Plants are very amenable to trimming and can be used as a formal hedge. They also make a very good informal hedge, their long arching branches looking especially attractive when in flower or bearing fruit. The plants tolerate maritime exposure though they are slow growing[8].
A yellow dye is obtained from the root and bark[16][17].
Pollinators: Insects, self
Notes: An excellent hedge plant for the western boundary of the garden, or for growing in most parts of the woodland garden. Even if you don't like the fruit, the birds will love it and leave your soft fruit alone for a while.
We can supply small plants in the
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1984.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Ahrendt, Leslie. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 1961.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.