Common Name:

General Information

Berberis empetrifolia is a low, spreading, spiny, evergreem shrub that grows up to 50cm tall[].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes cultivated as a fruit plant in home gardens in Chile[], and is also grown as an ornamental in gardens. It is a parent of several ornamental hybrids.

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

S. America - southern Argentina, southern Chile.

Habitat

Rocky slopes in the high Andes in the north of its range, wind-blown pampa in Aisen, and sandy beaches along the Strait of Magellan; at elevations from sea level in the very south of its range, ascending to 3,000 metres in the north[]..

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Berberis empetrifolia is well-adapted to cold, harsh environments, including rocky slopes in the high Andes and sandy beaches near the sea; it is hardy to about -15°c[, ].
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.
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus, especially with Berberis montana and Berberis grevilleana.[].
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 cooked[, , , ]. An acid flavour, they can be eaten raw or preserved as a jam[]. The black, sub-globose berries are 4 - 7mm long, containing 1 - 9 seeds, though usually 3 - 7[, ].

Medicinal

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

The roots and stems of all Berberis species contain alkaloids and, when cut open, are a strong yellow colour. This has been utilized by various cultures to make a yellow dye for cloth etc[].

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