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Berberidaceae FAMILY

Berberis boliviana

Berberis boliviana

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & 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.

Cultivation Details

HabitShrub
Growth—

Berberis boliviana is native to higher elevations in the tropics, generally at elevations from 2,500 - 4,000 metres and between latitudes of 20 - 13° south. In the north of its range it is often found in dry valleys, growing in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 840 - 1,000mm, most of which falls in a cool season of around 6 months. In the dry season temperatures can be as high as 28°c in the daytime, but can fall below freezing in the night. In the wet season temperatures are more even, fluctuating between 7 - 14°c[1]. Species in this genus generally prefer a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but re by no means fastidious, often succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[2]. 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[3]. We have no data on susceptibility for this species[PFAF].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[4]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[4], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[5]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[6]. 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[4]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Berberis+boliviana>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]The Ethnobotany of Chinchero. — Franquemont C. Et al · Field Museum of Natural History. · 1990 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org · ISBN 0015-0746 ↩︎Brief details on the local uses of plants for an Andean community in southern Peru. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Flora of N. America — http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ ↩︎An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
  4. [4]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  5. [5]Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. — McMillan-Browse. P. · Grower Books · 1985 · ISBN 0-901361-21-6 ↩︎Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
  6. [6]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  7. [7]Characterisation and preliminary bioactivity determination of Berberis boliviana Lechler fruit anthocyanins — Carla Del Carpio Jiménez, Carlos Serrano Flores et al · 2011 ↩︎
  8. [8]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
  9. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎