Common Name:

General Information

Berberis asiatica is an erect, spiny, deciduous to evergreen shrub that is freely branched from the base; it can grow up to 4 metres tall[].
The fruits are often harvested from the wild for use as a food - they are said to be the best species in India for making raisins. The plant is also used medicinally and for fencing. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.
It is proposed that the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2016)[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine - this is most concentrated in the roots, stems and inner bark, and least concentrated in the fruits. In small quantities berberine has a range of effective medicinal applications but, in excess, can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill-effects.
The fruit of most, if not all, members of this genus are more or less edible and can be eaten in quantity since the levels of berberine in the fruit are very low.

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Himalayas (Nepal)

Habitat

Shrubberies, grassy and rocky slopes; at elevations up to 2,500 metres[]. Found in heavy shade, on north-facing slopes[] and on open hillsides in the drier areas[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.50 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Berberis asiatica is not very hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone. It does experience frost and snow in its native range and can tolerate occasional, short-lived temperatures falling as low as -5°c. Plants grow very well in southwest England, for example[, ]., but are often cut to the ground in other parts of the country (though they will generally resprout from the base if the winter is not too severe)[, ].
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. Plants are often found growing in dense shade in the wild[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[]. This species is often offered under the names of Berberis chitria or Berberis glaucocarpa[].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[].
Some Berberis species (especially Berberis vulgaris) harbour the black stem-rust fungus (Puccinia graminis Persoon). This is a major disease of wheat and barley crops and can spread from infected barberries to the grain crop. The sale or transport of susceptible or untested species of Berberis is illegal in the United States and Canada[]. This species has been found to be susceptible to the disease[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or dried and used like raisins[, , , , , ]. This species is said to make the best Indian raisins[]. Fully ripe fruits are fairly juicy with a pleasantly acid flavour, though there are rather a lot of seeds[]. The fruit is abundantly produced in Britain[]. The dark purple, ovoid to globose berries are 7 - 10mm long[, ].

Medicinal

The roots are used in treating ulcers, urethral discharges, ophthalmia, jaundice, fevers etc[, ]. The roots contain 2.1% berberine, the stems 1.3%[].

The bark and wood are crushed in Nepal then boiled in water, strained and the liquid evaporated until a viscous mass is obtained. This is antibacterial, laxative and tonic[]. It is taken internally to treat fevers and is used externally to treat conjuctivitis and other inflammations of the eyes[].

Tender leaf buds are chewed and held against affected teeth for 15 minutes to treat dental caries[].

The fruit is cooling and laxative[].

The alkaloid berberine, which is universally present in the roots and stems 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 in combination with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[].
Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the roots and stems[].

The spiny branches are used to make fencing around fields in Nepal[].

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, mid summer in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, autumn in a frame[].