Berberis vulgaris - Common Barberry
Family: (Berberidaceae) - Barberry [E-flora]
[1]
Berberis vulgaris |
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[2]
Berberis vulgaris 'Atropurpurea' |
[3]
Berberis thunbergii 'Natasza' |
"Similar Species: This spiny shrub may be mistaken in BC for Japanese barberry (Berberis thumbergii). Several key features separate the two, however. The leaves on Japanese barberry are entire and untoothed, while the leaves on common barberry are coarsely spine-toothed; the flowers of Japanese barberry are solitary flowers or umbellate with up to 5 flowers while the flowers of common barberry are racemose. with 10-20 flowers per raceme (Flora North America 2011)." [E-flora]
"Berberis vulgaris is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from March to November, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Clump-forming shrub; stems erect, freely branched, 0.5-2.5 m tall; branches angled, grey or yellowish-grey." [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat / Range
"Mesic to dry disturbed areas in the lowland and steppe zones; infrequent in SW and SC BC; introduced from Eurasia." [IFBC-E-flora] Grows in thickets, along roadsides and in waste places. [EWP]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
Hazards
"Bark in doses of 4 mg or more; stupor, nosebleeds, vomiting, diarrhoea and kidney irritation. Contraindicated during pregnancy as abortion risk[301]." [PFAF]
Edible Uses
- Fruit
- "Raw or cooked[2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 95, 183]. Rich in vitamin C[268], the fruit has a very acid flavour and is mainly used in preserves[100], 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[183]. The fruits are about 10mm long[200]." [PFAF]
- Young Leaves
- "Young leaves - used as a flavouring or as an acid nibble[177, 183]. They can be used in much the same way as sorrel (Rumex acetosa)[9]. The dried young leaves and shoot tips make a refreshing tea[9, 183]." [PFAF]
Other Uses
- Dye
- "A good quality yellow dye is obtained from the roots, bark and stem[4, 13, 46, 100, 244]. As well as being used on cloth, it is also used to stain wood[244]." [PFAF]
- Wood
- "Soft, very hard, fine grained, yellow. Used for carving, toothpicks, mosaics etc[13, 46, 61]. It is also used as a fuel[146]." [PFAF]
- Hedge
- "Plants can be grown as a medium-size hedge in exposed positions but they cannot tolerate extreme maritime exposure[75]. They are very tolerant of trimming but can also be left untrimmed if required[K]." [PFAF]
- Ornament
- "The unripe fruit is dried and used as beads[106]." [PFAF]
Medicinal Uses
"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 [254]." [PFAF]
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Leaves
- "The leaves are astringent and antiscorbutic[7]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of coughs[222]." [PFAF]
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Fruit
- "A tea made from the fruits is antipruritic, antiseptic, appetizer, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and laxative[7, 222]. It is also used as a febrifuge[213]. The fruit, or freshly pressed juice, is used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder problems, kidney stones, menstrual pains etc[9]." [PFAF]
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Root Bark
- "The root bark has also been used as a purgative and treatment for diarrhoea[213] and is diaphoretic[222]. A tincture of the root bark has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica etc[222]. The root bark is a rich source of the alkaloid berberine - about 6%[240]." [PFAF]
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Tonic
- "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[254]." [PFAF]
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Bark
- "The bark and root bark are antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, hepatic, purgative, refrigerant, stomachic and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165, 222]. The bark is harvested in the summer and can be dried for storing[4]. It is especially useful in cases of jaundice, general debility and biliousness[4], but should be used with caution[165]." [PFAF]
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Berberine
- "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[218]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[218]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[218] and is also effective in the treatment of hypersensitive eyes, inflamed lids and conjunctivitis[244]." [PFAF]
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Root
- "The roots are astringent and antiseptic[222]. They have been pulverized in a little water and used to treat mouth ulcers[213]." [PFAF]
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Homeopathy
- "The plant (probably the inner bark) is used by homeopaths as a valuable remedy for kidney and liver insufficiency [244]." [PFAF]
- Other Medicinal Use
Phytochemicals |
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Chemical / Plant Part / Low PPM / High PPM / StdDev
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ppm = parts per million |
Cultivation & Propagation
"Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[11, 200]. Prefers a light rich rather dry soil according to another report[37]. 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[14]. Hardy to about -35°c[184]. A very ornamental plant[11], the barberry was at one time cultivated for its edible fruit, there are several named varieties[11, 200]. 'Dulcis' the fruit of which is sweet or slightly sour[200]. 'Asperma' is a seedless form that was often used in France to make a jam[182, 183]. An alternate host of 'black-stem rust' of wheat so it has been extensively grubbed up from its habitats[3, 11, 13, 74]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1], though it usually breeds fairly true to type[80]. Can be pruned back quite severely, it resprouts well from the base[200]." [PFAF]
"Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[78]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[78], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[80]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[113]. 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%[98, 113]. 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[78]. Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring[3, 200]." [PFAF]
References
- [DukePhyto] https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/phytochem/plants/show/237?part=&_ubiq=, Accessed Jan 1, 2020
- [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Berberis%20vulgaris&redblue=Both&lifeform=3, Accessed January 02, 2021
- [PFAF] https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Berberis+vulgaris, Accessed December 31, 2020
Berberis Sp. - Barberry
"Shrub, generally rhizomed. Stem: spreading to erect, branched, spiny or not, vine-like or not; inner bark, wood generally bright yellow; over-wintering bud scales deciduous or not. Leaf: simple or pinnately compound, cauline, alternate, generally leathery, generally persistent; leaflets generally 3–11, ± round to lanceolate, generally spine-toothed. Inflorescence: raceme, axillary or terminal. Flower: sepals 9 in 3 whorls of 3; petals 6 in 2 whorls of 3, bases generally glandular; stamens 6; ovules 2–9, stigma ± spheric. Fruit: berry, spheric to elliptic, generally purple-black.
± 600 species: temperate worldwide. (Latin: ancient Arabic name for barberry) Roots often TOXIC: spines may inject fungal spores into skin. [Kim 2004 J Plant Res 117:175–182] Contact with filament causes stamen to snap inward, possibly to deposit pollen on pollinator." [Jepson]
Treatment for this genus may not be unanimously accepted. Mahonia is included in this genus by Jepson. [Personal Observation]
Local Species;
- Berberis thunbergii - Japanese barberry [E-flora]
- Berberis vulgaris - common barberry [E-flora]
Uses of Related Sp.
The American Barberry (Berberis canadensis), a native shrub, grows along the mountains from Virginia to Georgia. The bushes are smaller and the berries fewer, shorter and more oval than those of the European species. The fruits of the American barberry are also used for the making of jelly. They are ripe in early autumn. [EWP]
References
- [Jepson] Michael P. Williams, 2013. Berberis, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=8928, accessed on Jun 18 2014
Berberis thunbergii - Japanese barberry
"Japanese barberry is a perennial deciduous shrub species that originates in Europe and was introduced to North America in 1875. It naturalized by the early 1900's. It is now found in several eastern Canadian provinces (QE, ON, NS, NB) and in many eastern and mid-western US states (USDA 2011). It is also reported from British Columbia." [E-flora]
"Japanese barberry is a spiny 0.3 to 3 m shrub with simple dull smooth leaves, with flowers solitary or in an umbel of up to 5 flowers, and red berries (Flora North America 2011). Leaves are small, entire, often spatula-shaped and green, bluish-green, often reddish in coloration; branches are brown and zig-zag.with a single spine at each node (Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group 2011). Roots are shallow. Japanese barberry is considered an invasive species. However it is still propagated and sold in nurseries. It can form dense stands, altering ecosystems and habitats (soil pH changes and leaf litter reduction), and is shade tolerant and drought resistant (Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group 2011). Reproduction is both sexual (seeds dispersed by birds) and asexual (it is clonal); it can sprout from root fragments (Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group 2011)." [E-flora]
"Similar Species This spiny shrub may be mistaken in BC for common barberry (Berberis vulgaris). Several key features separate the two, however. The leaves on Japanese barberry are entire and untoothed, while the leaves on common barberry are coarsely spine-toothed; the flowers of Japanese barberry are solitary flowers or umbellate with up to 5 flowers while the flowers of common barberry are racemose. with 10-20 flowers per raceme (Flora North America 2011)." [E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
Synonyms: Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea Chenault [E-flora]
References
- [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Berberis%20thunbergii&redblue=Both&lifeform=3, Accessed December 31, 2020
Image References
- [1] Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- [2] Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- [3] Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons