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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] barberry again

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  • From: Ginda Fisher <ginda@concentric.net>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] barberry again
  • Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 08:39:54 -0400

I'm only familiar with the invasive barberry in the northeast, and can't even tell you which barberry it is. But I can say that the fruits are very small, with only a little flesh between the tough skin and the seed. The flesh is waxy, yellow, and very bitter. Birds seem to like it, but it is not fit for human consumption. I've wondered if you could make candles from it, but never bothered to collect the thousands of fruit you'd need to try.

It does grow into a very nice hedge, if you trim it. The thorns are very nasty, and keep out people, dogs, deer, and other large animals. Both the red and green ones are reasonably attractive grown as hedges, so long as you're not close enough to be bothered by the thorns. Because it is considered an invasive alien, I can't recommend it, though.

Ginda Fisher
eastern MA, zone 6

On Friday, October 11, 2002, at 04:35 PM, Mark Lee wrote:

A month ago I sent a message asking about experience growing barberry for
its fruit. I had one reply from India (thanks Dr. Parmar). What I'm
looking for is a reply from an American fruit explorer that knows anything
about barberry as an edible. I know Berberis aristata is used in Middle
Eastern rice dishes in dried form similar to raisins. Maybe the work to
eradicate barberry as a host for grain diseases has turned people off to the
possibilities for barberry in the edible landscape. Any interest in this
fruit?
-Mark Lee, Seattle

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