Berberis vulgaris

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Berberis vulgaris
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:3
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Self Pollinated
Height:10'
Width:7'
Speed:Moderate
Blooms:Late Spring-Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Shelter
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Berberis vulgaris (common name: 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. Germination averages out at about 90%[4][3].

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].

Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring[5][6].

Cultivation: Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[7][6]. Prefers a light rich rather dry soil according to another report[8]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[11. 200] but requires a moist soil when grown in the shade of trees[9].

Hardy to about -35°c[10].

A very ornamental plant[7], the barberry was at one time cultivated for its edible fruit, there are several named varieties[7][6]. 'Dulcis' the fruit of which is sweet or slightly sour[6]. 'Asperma' is a seedless form that was often used in France to make a jam[11][12].

An alternate host of 'black-stem rust' of wheat so it has been extensively grubbed up from its habitats[5][7][13][14].

Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[15], though it usually breeds fairly true to type[2]. Can be pruned back quite severely, it resprouts well from the base[6].

Range: Barberry Coast. Naturalized, or possibly native, in Britain[16].

Habitat: Light deciduous woodland, hedges, roadsides, clearings etc, preferring a sunny position and a chalky soil[17][18].

Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[19][5][20][21][17][7][22][12]. Rich in vitamin C[18], the fruit has a very acid flavour and is mainly used in preserves[23], though children and some adults seem to like it raw when it is fully ripe[K]. A refreshing lemon-like drink can be made from the fruit[12]. The fruits are about 10mm long[6].

Young leaves - used as a flavouring or as an acid nibble[24][12]. They can be used in much the same way as sorrel (Rumex acetosa)[17].

The dried young leaves and shoot tips make a refreshing tea[17][12].

Medicinal: Barberries have long been used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of a variety of complaints. All parts of the plant can be used though the yellow root bark is the most concentrated source of active ingredients. The plant is mainly used nowadays as a tonic to the gallbladder to improve the flow of bile and ameliorate conditions such as gallbladder pain, gallstones and jaundice[25].

The bark and root bark are antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, hepatic, purgative, refrigerant, stomachic and tonic[26][21][17][27][28][29][30]. The bark is harvested in the summer and can be dried for storing[26]. It is especially useful in cases of jaundice, general debility and biliousness[26], but should be used with caution[29].

The flowers and the stem bark are antirheumatic[31].

The roots are astringent and antiseptic[30]. They have been pulverized in a little water and used to treat mouth ulcers[32]. A tea of the roots and stems has been used to treat stomach ulcers[32]. The root bark has also been used as a purgative and treatment for diarrhoea[32] and is diaphoretic[30]. A tincture of the root bark has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica etc[30]. The root bark is a rich source of the alkaloid berberine (about 6%)[33].

Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Berberis species, has marked antibacterial effects. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[31]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[31]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[31] and is also effective in the treatment of hypersensitive eyes, inflamed lids and conjunctivitis[34].

A tea made from the fruits is antipruritic, antiseptic, appetizer, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and laxative[21][30]. It is also used as a febrifuge[32]. The fruit, or freshly pressed juice, is used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder problems, kidney stones, menstrual pains etc[17].

The leaves are astringent and antiscorbutic[21]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of coughs[30].

The plant (probably the inner bark) is used by homeopaths as a valuable remedy for kidney and liver insufficiency[34].

Usage: Plants can be grown as a medium-size hedge in exposed positions but they cannot tolerate extreme maritime exposure[35]. They are very tolerant of trimming but can also be left untrimmed if required[K].

A good quality yellow dye is obtained from the roots, bark and stem[26][13][28][23][34]. As well as being used on cloth, it is also used to stain wood[34].

The unripe fruit is dried and used as beads[36].

Wood - soft, very hard, fine grained, yellow. Used for carving, toothpicks, mosaics etc[13][28][37]. It is also used as a fuel[38].

Pollinators: Insects, self

Notes: We would need to buy in seed and would be able to supply in the second year following germination.

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

In Leaf: Early Spring-Late Fall

Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
  4. ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
  9. ↑ Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
  10. ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
  11. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
  14. ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
  15. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  16. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
  19. ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  20. ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  22. ↑ Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
  24. ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
  25. ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  27. ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  33. ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
  35. ↑ Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1984.
  36. ↑ Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
  37. ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  38. ↑ Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.


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