Barberry Flower

Did you know

• The tiny yellow flowers are touch-sensitive; stamens snap inward when an insect touches them, dusting the visitor with pollen.
• Barberry was once banned in many US states because it serves as an alternate host for wheat rust fungus.
• The berberine compound in barberry gives the inner bark and roots a vivid yellow color, used historically as a dye.
• The tart red berries are used to make preserves, beverages, and the Iranian rice dish zereshk polo.
• Ancient Egyptians combined barberry fruit with fennel seeds to prepare a remedy for plague fevers.

Color meanings

Uses

• hedge plant
• culinary (berries)
• traditional medicine
• dye production