Berberis x stenophylla

Lindl.

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 117 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Berberis x stenophylla is an evergreen shrub reaching 2.5 m tall and wide at a medium growth rate. Foliage persists year-round with flowers appearing April to May and seeds ripening August to September. The hermaphroditic, self-fertile plant is insect-pollinated and attracts wildlife. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils, including poor soils, and tolerates very alkaline conditions. The plant grows in semi-shade or full sun, prefers moist soil, and handles maritime exposure well. Hardy to UK zone 5.

Description

An evergreen hybrid shrub. The stems are woody. The branches arch over. It grows to 2.4 m high and spreads to 3 m wide. The leaves are narrow and deep green. They are bluish underneath. The flowers are golden yellow. The fruit are blue-purple berries.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. A delicious sub-acid flavour, though there are a lot of seeds to relatively little flesh. Children generally love this fruit, along with some adults, though most adults seem to prefer it cooked in pies, preserves etc. The fruit is not always very freely borne, growing the plants near to B. darwinii (which is one of its parents) seems to increase the yield. The fruits are about 7mm long.

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

Do not use with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice).

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia, North America, Tasmania,

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. Tolerates maritime exposure. Fairly slow growing. Plants are hardy to about -15°c. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties. Plants sucker freely, forming thickets. A good bee plant, the flowers are very fragrant. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base.

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. This plant does not breed true from seed because it is a hybrid species. Most of the seedlings revert back to one of the parents, usually B. darwinii. 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 Hedge Hedge Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be grown as a medium-size hedge. Their long arching branches look especially nice if the plants are allowed to grow as an untrimmed informal hedge that is very resistant to maritime exposure. It succeeds on top of Cornish hedges. The prickles make it impenetrable though it can be invasive. There are some named varieties of prostrate growth that are suitable for use as a ground cover. 'Corallina' and 'Prostrata' have been especially mentioned. A yellow dye is obtained from the root. Special Uses Attracts Wildlife Food Forest Ground cover Hedge Hedge

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

Synonyms

Berberis darwinii x Berberis empetrifolia

References (6)

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 126
Gard. Chron. 1864:460. 1864
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