Berberis chinensis

Poir.

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit 41 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A deciduous shrub with hermaphroditic, insect-pollinated flowers blooming June to July. Self-fertile and hardy to UK zone 6. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, tolerating heavy clay conditions. Suitable for mildly acid to basic soil pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A shrub. The small branches are grooved. They are purple or red. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are pale yellow underneath. The fruit is a berry. It is oval and purple. It is edible.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

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

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Caucasus, China, Korea, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are hardy to about -25°c. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base. This species is closely related to B. poiretii. C.K.Schn., differing in its broader leaves and dark red fruits. The range of this plant is often mistakenly given as the Caucasus, this is based on a misidentification. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate, whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated. 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.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root. Special Uses

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

Synonyms

Berberbis sinensis Desf.

References (5)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 57
Encycl. 8:617. 1808
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 98 (As Berberis sinensis)
Hist. arbr. France 2:27. 1809 (Tabl. ecole bot. 150. 1804, nom. nudum) (As Berberis sinensis)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/