Practical
Plants

Berberis vulgaris

Barberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Berberis genus in the family Berberidaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
3 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[15][25][29][31][36][4][37][13]. Rich in vitamin C[24], the fruit has a very acid flavour and is mainly used in preserves[2], 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[13]. The fruits are about 10mm long[16]. Young leaves - used as a flavouring or as an acid nibble[11][13]. They can be used in much the same way as sorrel (Rumex acetosa)[36]. The dried young leaves and shoot tips make a refreshing tea[36][13].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[23]. The bark and root bark are antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, hepatic, purgative, refrigerant, stomachic and tonic[27][31][36][17][28][9][20]. The bark is harvested in the summer and can be dried for storing[27]. It is especially useful in cases of jaundice, general debility and biliousness[27], but should be used with caution[9]. The flowers and the stem bark are antirheumatic[19]. The roots are astringent and antiseptic[20]. They have been pulverized in a little water and used to treat mouth ulcers[18]. A tea of the roots and stems has been used to treat stomach ulcers[18]. The root bark has also been used as a purgative and treatment for diarrhoea[18] and is diaphoretic[20]. A tincture of the root bark has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica etc[20]. The root bark is a rich source of the alkaloid berberine (about 6%)[21]. 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[19]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[19]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[19] and is also effective in the treatment of hypersensitive eyes, inflamed lids and conjunctivitis[22]. A tea made from the fruits is antipruritic, antiseptic, appetizer, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and laxative[31][20]. It is also used as a febrifuge[18]. The fruit, or freshly pressed juice, is used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder problems, kidney stones, menstrual pains etc[36]. The leaves are astringent and antiscorbutic[31]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of coughs[20]. The plant (probably the inner bark) is used by homeopaths as a valuable remedy for kidney and liver insufficiency[22].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Refrigerant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a medium-size hedge in exposed positions but they cannot tolerate extreme maritime exposure[33]. 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[27][6][28][2][22]. As well as being used on cloth, it is also used to stain wood[22]. The unripe fruit is dried and used as beads[3]. Wood - soft, very hard, fine grained, yellow. Used for carving, toothpicks, mosaics etc[6][28][30]. It is also used as a fuel[8].

Product or use
Beads
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Barberry Coast. Naturalized, or possibly native, in Britain[10].
Habitat
Light deciduous woodland, hedges, roadsides, clearings etc, preferring a sunny position and a chalky soil[36][24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[34]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[34], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[35]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[5]. 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%[38][5]. 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[34]. Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring[25][16].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[4][16]. Prefers a light rich rather dry soil according to another report[26]. 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[7]. Hardy to about -35°c[14]. A very ornamental plant[4], the barberry was at one time cultivated for its edible fruit, there are several named varieties[4][16]. 'Dulcis' the fruit of which is sweet or slightly sour[16]. 'Asperma' is a seedless form that was often used in France to make a jam[12][13]. An alternate host of 'black-stem rust' of wheat so it has been extensively grubbed up from its habitats[25][4][6][32]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1], though it usually breeds fairly true to type[35]. Can be pruned back quite severely, it resprouts well from the base[16].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  6. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

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  7. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

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  8. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

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  9. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  10. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  11. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  12. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  13. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  15. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  16. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  17. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  18. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  21. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  22. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  23. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  24. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2

  25. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  26. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  27. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  28. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  29. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  30. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  31. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  32. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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  33. Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00

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  34. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  35. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  36. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  37. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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  38. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

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