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Berberis darwinii - Hook.

Common Name Darwin's Barberry, Darwin's berberis
Family Berberidaceae
USDA hardiness 7-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist shady woodland in the Patagonian mountains[67].
Range S. America - S. Argentina, S. Chile.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Berberis darwinii Darwin


http://www.flickr.com/photos/69024001@N00
Berberis darwinii Darwin
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Michael_w

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Orange, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Berberis darwinii is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3.5 m (11ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from July to August. 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: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked and used in preserves[2, 3, 105, 183]. An acid but very pleasant flavour, children seem particularly fond of the fruit[2, 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[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Cancer  Dysentery  Tonic  Urinary

The root bark is tonic[46, 61]. 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[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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Hedge  Hedge

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[75]. A yellow dye is obtained from the root and bark[46, 61].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Erosion control, Pest tolerant, Hedge, Massing, Seashore. 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[11, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds on chalky soils if other conditions are suitable but prefers an acid soil[184]. Dislikes exposure to strong winds according to one report[11], whilst others say that it is a very wind hardy plant, tolerating maritime exposure[49, 75, 200]. Does not flower well in exposed positions[49]. 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[184]. A good bee plant[108]. 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[1]. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[200]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

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. 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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Michay,

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile, New Zealand, South America*, Tasmania,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Hook.

Botanical References

1167200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

david nicholls   Sat Oct 13 2007

This plant grows wild on lightly grazed farm land and other places around Wellington, New Zealand. I dont know about the rest of this country. I rarely eat it unless I am hungry/thirsty on a hike and there is nothing else, but I must admit I was delighted when I found one had sprouted at my place today, so it must have some charm.

   Jun 3 2017 12:00AM

I was just now reading this article wit interest because I have a mature specimen in my garden, it is standing on a north facing heavy clay bank looking at the Irish Sea and behind it is a large griselinia hedge, it is at the moment 3rd June full of fresh green fruits, the article under the heading "Edible Uses"said 7mm long! should this be 7mm in diameter or do I have another species of the plant?

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