Barberry
Berberis vulgaris
- Layer 3 · Shrubs
- Edible companion
Status by region
No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.
Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).
Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.
About
Native to Europe and western Asia, it is a thorny shrub that produces small, edible and tart red berries. It adapts to various soil types and resists drought well. It serves as a defensive hedge and a source of food for wildlife and humans.
See which trees the barberry grows well with
We have no trees recorded with this species yet. Start from the tree on your land.
No account needed.
Needs
- Water: Low
- Light: Full sun
- Size: Deciduous shrub up to 2.5 m
- Mature diameter: 2 m
- Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
- Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean, Mountain / cold
Calendar
- January
- February — Planting
- March — Planting
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August — Harvest
- September — Harvest
- October — Harvest — Planting
- November — Planting
- December
- Harvest
- Planting
Medicinal use: The fruits rich in vitamin C are edible and the root has traditional medicinal properties.
Where to buy
Related plants
Other species in the same layer or with the same function.
See which trees the barberry grows well with
We have no trees recorded with this species yet. Start from the tree on your land.
No account needed.
Not ready to map your land yet?
Get the free mini-guide to starting an edible forest.