Nepal barberry
Berberis nepalensis

Family: Berberidaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to about 3 m high. The leaves have stalks. They have an odd number of leaflets along the stalk. There are 17-21 leaflets. They are oval and taper to the tip. They have spiny teeth. They are glossy. The flowers are yellow. They occur in dense clusters along the stalk.

There are 70-100 Mahonia species. Many Mahonia are included in Berberis.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Nepal they grow between 2200-2800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are bitter and acidic. They are also pickled. The flowers and young shoots are eaten as a vegetable and used in chutney.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers, shoots

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Barberi Nepal, Chutro, Kesari, Pual-eng, Tamen, Taming

Synonyms

Berberis acanthifolia Wall. ex Walp.; Mahonia acanthifolia Wall. ex G. Don;