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Berberis canadensis - Mill.

Common Name Allegheny Barberry, American barberry
Family Berberidaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Banks of streams and dry woods[11, 43]. In woods or glades, on rocky slopes and near rivers at elevations of 100 - 700 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America - Virginia to Georgia, Alberta and Indiana.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Berberis canadensis Allegheny Barberry, American barberry


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Radomil
Berberis canadensis Allegheny Barberry, American barberry
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 127.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Berberis canadensis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
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. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

B. angulizans.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked. Agreeably acid[2, 22, 46, 95, 161], they are an acceptable raw fruit in small quantities but are more commonly used in preserves[177, K]. The fruits are about 9mm long[200]. Leaves - raw. A trailside nibble[102]. Flowers[102]. No more details.

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

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]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of fevers and diarrhoea[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow dye is obtained from the root.

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[11, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[11, 200]. The plant is an alternate host of 'black stem rust' of cereals and so it is often grubbed out when growing wild in cereal-producing areas. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1]. Plants can be pruned back quite severely and resprout well from the base[200]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant 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

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Indiana (south), West Virginia, Illinois (south), Missouri (southeast), Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland (west), Tennessee, Virginia,

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 :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Berberis aggregataSalmon BarberryShrub1.5 5-9 MLMHSNDM321
Berberis amurensis Shrub3.5 5-9  LMHSNDM222
Berberis angulosaLarge-Flowered BarberryShrub1.0 5-9  LMHSNDM321
Berberis aristataChitra, Indian Barberry or Tree TurmericShrub3.5 5-9 MLMHSNDM433
Berberis asiaticaChutro, Rasanjan (Nep); marpyashi (Newa); Daruharidra, Darbi (Sans)Shrub3.5 7-10 MLMHFSNDM432
Berberis buxifoliaMagellan BarberryShrub2.5 4-8  LMHSNDM423
Berberis calliantha Shrub0.7 6-9  LMHSNDM22 
Berberis capillaris Shrub1.0 7-10  LMHSNDM221
Berberis chengii Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNDM121
Berberis chinensis Shrub0.0 5-9  LMHSNM121
Berberis chitria Shrub4.0 -  LMHSNDM221
Berberis concinna Shrub1.0 4-8  LMHSNDM221
Berberis cooperi Shrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNM321
Berberis darwiniiDarwin's Barberry, Darwin's berberisShrub3.0 7-9 MLMHSNM423
Berberis empetrifolia Shrub0.3 6-9  LMHSNDM221
Berberis everstiana Shrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNDM221
Berberis fendleriColorado BarberryShrub1.5 5-9  LMHSNDM221
Berberis flexuosa Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNDM121
Berberis gagnepainii Shrub2.4 4-8  LMHSNDM223
Berberis georgiiBarberryShrub3.0 3-7 MLMHSNDM321
Berberis heterophylla Shrub1.5 7-10  LMHSNDM121
Berberis jaeschkeana Shrub0.8 -  LMHSNDM121
Berberis koreanaKorean Barberry, BarberryShrub1.5 3-7 MLMHSNDM121
Berberis lycium Shrub3.0 5-9 MLMHSNDM331
Berberis parisepala Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNDM221
Berberis rariflora Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNDM221
Berberis rubrostilla Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHSNDM321
Berberis ruscifolia Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNDM221
Berberis sherriffii Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNDM121
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

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

Readers comment

Stuart Douglas   Mon Aug 10 2009

I am a research medical herbalist from Australia and I am trying to locate sources of the Berberis Canadensis as I have anecdotal evidence of successful trials of this plant extract for certain rare cancers. I have tried all traditional sources without success, hence why I am contacting you. Can you please assist with a referal point for sources of this plant, whether they be commercial or private. Kind regards, Stuart Douglas

david (volunteer)   Mon Aug 10 2009

The only source I could find was www.msknursery.com in the US, somewhere to start maybe.

Stuart Douglas   Mon Aug 10 2009

Thank you kindly David, I will let you know how I get on. Cheers, Stuart

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