What is Barberry Root?

Barberry Root is the dried root and root bark of Berberis vulgaris, European Barberry, a spiny shrub in the family Berberidaceae. Like Oregon Grape and Goldenseal, it is a major plant source of berberine, the bright yellow alkaloid that colors the inner bark.

About the plant

Barberry is a European shrub with bright yellow inner bark and small tart red fruits. It has a long place in European herbal tradition dating back over two thousand years. Several unrelated berberine-rich plants fill overlapping roles across different regions: Barberry in Europe, Goldenseal in eastern North America, Oregon Grape in the Pacific Northwest, and Coptis in China. The red berries are also edible, if sharply acidic, and appear in Persian cooking as zereshk.

Barberry Root: form & sizes

We carry Barberry Root as cut and sifted dried root and root bark, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Barberry Root in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Barberry Root at a glance

Botanical name

Berberis vulgaris

Family

Berberidaceae

Native region

Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa

Plant part

root and root bark

Also known as

European Barberry, Pipperidge Bush

Notable compound

Berberine (yellow alkaloid)

Form

cut and sifted dried root and root bark

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb