Berberis wilsoniae

Berberis wilsoniae, Mrs. Wilson's barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is native to Tibet, south-central China, and Myanmar, and has been introduced to the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It is a mound-forming, deer-resistant shrub, with blueish-green leaves that turn red in Autumn and yellow flowers that produce translucent pink fruit. A number of cultivars are available.

Description

A shrub. It loses its leaves in colder places. It grows to 1.5 m high. It spreads with branches arching over and touching the ground. The leaves are small, narrow and without teeth. The tip is rounded. The leaves turn yellow, orange or red. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are pink. The fruit turn red. They are 6 mm across.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit raw or cooked. Very acid with a lemon-like flavour, it goes very well in a muesli. Children and some adults like it raw, at least in small quantities, though most adults prefer to cook it and use it in pies, preserves etc. The fruits are about 6mm long.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are acidic and can be eaten fresh but are often used in preserves, desserts, pies, chutneys etc. The flowers are eaten as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

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 is best with a light to medium well-drained soil. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Himalayas, China*, Tasmania, Tibet,

Cultivation

Deciduous to semi-evergreen. Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus, especially the closely related B. aggregata. The true species is seldom seen in cultivation, having been replaced with its hybrid progeny. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. Heat Zone 9-4.

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

Dye Plants can be grown as a tall ground cover when planted about 60cm apart each way. A yellow dye is obtained from the root. A shrub for thorny barriers to deter unwanted visitors. Berries loved by birds. Special Uses Food Forest Ground cover

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

References (11)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 142
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 231
• Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 127
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 43
• J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 57:215. 1961

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