Berberis sherriffii

Ahrendt.

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit 1 iNaturalist observations

No photos yet for Berberis sherriffii

Summary

A deciduous shrub reaching 2 m tall, hardy to UK zone 6. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils including poor soils. Tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and basic pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun with either dry or moist soil.

Description

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2 m tall. It has simple spines. The leaves are 1-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are yellow-green underneath. There are 15-20 flowers in a group. The fruit is a purplish-red berry. It is oval and 6-9 mm long by 3-4 mm wide.

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. It grows on the edges of forests between 2,000-3,000 m above sea level in Tibet.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Himalayas, Tibet,

Cultivation

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils but disliking waterlogged soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprouts well from the base. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. This species is closely related to B. gyalaica.

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.