Pollinator plant

European Barberry

Berberis vulgaris

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

44 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
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Other languages (29)
Dutch
French
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  • Épine-vinette commune[2][3]
Armenian
  • Ծորենի սովորական[3]
Belarusian
  • Барбарыс звычайны[3]
  • Кіслец[3]
  • Кіслянка[3]
Bulgarian
  • Обикновен кисел трън[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Obična žutika[3]
Czech
  • dřišťál obecný[3]
Danish
  • Almindelig berberis[3]
Estonian
  • harilik kukerpuu[3]
Finnish
  • ruostehappomarja[3]
German
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Hungarian
  • sóskaborbolya[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウメギ[3]
Latvian
  • Parastā bārbele[3]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis raugerškis[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Berberys zwyczajny[3]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Барбарис обыкновенный[3]
Slovak
  • Dráč obyčajný[3]
Slovenian
  • navadni češmin[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • kızılkaramuk[3]
Ukrainian
  • Барбарис звичайний[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

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] Berberis vulgaris — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • European Barberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Common Barberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Berberis vulgaris.
[2] Berberis vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • European barberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Zuurbes — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Épine-vinette commune — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Echte Berberitze — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Essigbeere — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Gewöhnliche Berberitze — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Sauerdorn — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Common Barberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • European Berbery — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Agracejo — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Berbéris commun — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Vinettier commun — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Épine-vinette — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Crespino comune — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Bérberis — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Uva-de-espinho — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Uva-spim — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
[3] Berberis vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • European barberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Zuurbes — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Épine-vinette commune — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Echte Berberitze — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Essigbeere — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Gewöhnliche Berberitze — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Sauerdorn — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Common Barberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • European Berbery — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Agracejo — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Berbéris commun — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Vinettier commun — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Épine-vinette — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Crespino comune — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Bérberis — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Uva-de-espinho — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Uva-spim — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Барбарис обыкновенный — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Барбарыс звычайны — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Кіслец — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Кіслянка — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • dřišťál obecný — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Almindelig berberis — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Paprastasis raugerškis — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • berberis — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Обикновен кисел трън — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • ruostehappomarja — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Obična žutika — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Berberys zwyczajny — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • berberis — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • 刺檗 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • 刺檗 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • harilik kukerpuu — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Ծորենի սովորական — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • セイヨウメギ — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Барбарис звичайний — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • navadni češmin — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • sóskaborbolya — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Dráč obyčajný — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • kızılkaramuk — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Dracilă — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • Parastā bārbele — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
  • 欧洲小檗 — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 75758; Berberis vulgaris.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • barberry — Page 2, column 1, row top 682 pt; common-name cell after Berberis vulgaris.; Berberis vulgaris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Berberis vulgaris is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Berberidaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Arching; Broad; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Centrall and Southern Europe to Iran

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Berberis vulgaris in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
3.00 m high × 2.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-7
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Leaves, Seasoning, Tea
Functions
Dye, Hedge, Timber, Pollinator plant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Fruits: edible raw or cooked. The sour berries are an excellent source of vitamin C. They have a strong sour taste and are often pickled, although some people, including children, enjoy them fresh. A refreshing lemon-flavored drink can also be made from them. The small fruits are about 10 mm long. Young leaves: The young leaves are used as a seasoning or as a sour snack. They can be consumed in similar ways to sorrel (Rumex acetosa). Finally, the dried young leaves and the tips of the shoots can be used to make a refreshing tea.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Berberis vulgaris — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4995726; ID LKBJ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4995726; ID LKBJ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Berberis vulgaris — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Berberis vulgaris (top 682 pt)

    Source checked on .