Berberis koreana

Palibin.

Korean barberry

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 47 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Berberis koreana, the Korean barberry, is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) in height. The species is endemic to Korea. It is planted as an ornamental shrub in North America, South America and Europe.

Description

A deciduous shrub. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. It develops suckers. There are spines on the stems. They spread out like fingers on a hand or in rings around the stem. The leaves are oblong and 6 cm long. They have teeth around the edge. The leaves can be mottled when young. The leaves colour in autumn. The flowers are yellow. They are in clusters of up to 20. These spikes droop. The fruit are glossy red berries.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruits are about 5mm long. Young leaves - 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.

Known Hazards

Several species of Berberis contain alkaloids such as berberine, canadine, columbamine, corypalmine, jatrorrhizine, and palmatine. These alkaloids are all very similar in chemical structure, but they vary in the effects they have on humans. Protoberberine relaxes smooth muscle and causes a decrease in overall blood pressure. Berberine, at high dosages, has been known to cause seizures and inhibit enzymes. Berberis can have adverse side effects such as severe digestive tract irritation that includes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The side effects are not life-threatening and can be treated.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to Korea. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Korea*,

Cultivation

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base. Very stoloniferous, plants produce suckers freely. A very ornamental plant, it is closely related to B. vulgaris. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. The flowers are produced late in spring, thereby escaping spring frosts.

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. Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring.

Other Uses

Dye A yellow dye is obtained from the root. Special Uses

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

References (6)

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 230
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 125
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 42
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 10

Show all 6 references