Plant Details

Berberis darwinii

Darwin's Barberry, Darwin's berberis

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Common names

17 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Darwin's Barberry[1][2]
  • Darwin's berberis
  • Darwins Barberry[2]
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Darwins berberis[2]
French
  • Épine-vinette de Darwin[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 达尔文小檗[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 達爾文小檗[2]
Czech
  • dřišťál Darwinův[2]
Finnish
  • chilenhappomarja[2]
German
  • Darwin-Berberitze[1]
  • Darwins Berberitze[2]
Mapudungun
Russian
  • Барбарис Дарвина[2]
Slovak
  • dráč Darwinov[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • darwinberberis[2]
Language not specified
  • quelung [Chile][1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Berberis darwinii Hook. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Michay — VernacularName.tsv, line 166589; taxon 68KB8.
  • quelung [Chile]; Darwin's Barberry (EN); Darwin-Berberitze (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 166590; taxon 68KB8.
[2] Berberis darwinii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Darwin's Barberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Darwins Barberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Darwins berberis — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • dřišťál Darwinův — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Michay — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • darwinberberis — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • 達爾文小檗 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • 达尔文小檗 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Барбарис Дарвина — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • chilenhappomarja — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Darwins Berberitze — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Épine-vinette de Darwin — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • Chakaywa — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.
  • dráč Darwinov — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75751; Berberis darwinii.

General information

Scientific name: Berberis darwinii
Accepted name (Kew): Berberis darwinii Hook. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Berberidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Berberis (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Darwin's Barberry, Darwin's berberis
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.52–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.22–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Arching, Dense

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Hedge, Food forest

Description

Fruit - can be eaten raw or cooked and used in preserves. It has a sour but nevertheless pleasant taste that is especially loved by children. When the fruit is fully ripe, it loses most of its sour flavor and becomes very delicious. Unfortunately, the fruit contains a lot of seeds in relation to the amount of pulp, which somewhat detracts from the enjoyment of eating. The fruit tastes wonderful in raw muesli or cooked in porridge. The fruits are about 7 mm long.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 15/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1324406; name ID 2673360; Berberis L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1324702; name ID 2673673; Berberis darwinii Hook..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Berberis darwinii

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1997714, ID 68KB8: Berberis darwinii Hook. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Berberis darwinii — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .