Berberis glaucocarpa
Common name
barberry
Family
Berberidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
BERGLA
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland).
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Glabrous, evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub to c. 7m high. Spines to 2.3 cm long, sometimes single, sometimes 3-partite. Lvs with short petiole to 5 mm long. Lamina up to 7.5 x 2.5 cm, oblanceolate but often very variable on one plant, spiny margins and shining above. Flowers yellow, sometimes with outer parts red-tinged, arranged in simple or compound racemes to 6 cm long. Berry 7-12mm long, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, reddish black, with an obvious white bloom. Juice dark red with seed about 1mm long.
Similar taxa
The combination of large spiny leaves, and 3-partite spines to 2.5 cm long distinguish B. glauccarpa from other berberis species naturalised in New Zealand. It also grows to about 7 m which is much taller than the other species.
Flowering
October, November
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Yellow
Fruiting
December, January, February
Life cycle
Perennial. Produces seed which is dispersed birds and vertebrates.
Year naturalised
1916
Origin
W Himalaya
Reason for introduction
Ornamental.
Tolerances
Thought not to be as shade tolerant as other Berberis species. Requires moderate fertility.
Etymology
berberis: From the Arabic name berberys