Common Name: Darwin's Barberry

General Information

Berberis darwinii is an erect, spiny, evergreen shrub that is much-branched from the base; it can grow from 100 - 300cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used to make an effective hedge.

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

Moist shady woodland in the Patagonian mountains[]. A species of disturbed forest habitats, it has now become a common roadside shrub[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Berberis darwinii can tolerate considerable winter cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -15°c[].
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil in full sun or light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds on chalky soils if other conditions are suitable but prefers an acid soil[]. Dislikes exposure to strong winds according to one report[], whilst others say that it is a very wind hardy plant, tolerating maritime exposure[, , ]. Does not flower well in exposed positions[]. Plants growing in a very exposed position on our trial grounds in Cornwall are flowering and fruiting well, they are rather slow growing but are looking very happy and healthy[].
A good bee plant[]. Birds love this fruit and will happily eat it all before it is fully ripe[]. If you want to experience the fully ripe fruit then it might be necessary to find ways of keep the birds off the plants[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[].
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 shown to be resistant to infetion by the fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked and used in preserves[, , , ]. An acid but very pleasant flavour, children seem particularly fond of the fruit[, ]. When fully ripe, the fruit loses most of its acidity and makes very pleasant eating[]. Unfortunately there is a lot of seed compared to the amount of flesh and this does detract somewhat from the pleasure of eating it[]. The fruit goes very well raw in a muesli or cooked in a porridge[]. The dark blue, subglobose berries are about 7 - 8mm long, containing 3 - 6 seeds[, ].

Medicinal

The root bark is tonic[, ].

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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are very amenable to trimming and can be used as a formal hedge. They also make a very good informal hedge, their long arching branches looking especially attractive when in flower or bearing fruit. The plants tolerate maritime exposure though they are slow growing[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root and bark[, ].

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[].