Practical
Plants

Berberis wallichiana

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw[9]. There are no edible uses listed for Berberis wallichiana.

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.

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[3]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[3]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[3].

Material uses

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

A yellow dye is obtained from the root.

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas to China.
Habitat
Open ground at elevations of 2000 - 3400 metres in Nepal[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, 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[6]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[6], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[7]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[1]. 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%[8][1]. 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[6]. Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring[5][2].

Cultivation

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

Not known

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  3. 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. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  9. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (2002-00-00)

    ↩

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