Cascade Barberry
Berberis nervosa
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © littlelegofan (iNaturalist #175881885)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- Berberis nervosa
- USDA Symbol:
- MANE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire. Often increases in density in the years following low-intensity burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers shaded, forested environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Germination can be slow and erratic. Seeds benefit from removal of pulp before stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed into fine mesh bags and soaked in a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 48 hours. Seeds are placed in a sealed container and into warm stratification (10 °C) for 60 days. Following warm stratification, seeds are layered in peat and placed into cold stratification (1 to 3 °C) for an additional 90 days. Check seeds in warm strat and peat weekly. If mold is evident, seeds should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Establishment: Ripe fruits may be picked by hand, using heavy gloves, or flailed onto cloth beneath the bushes. The plant is native to Northern and central California Coast Ranges to British Columbia and northern Idaho.
Source: npn.rngr.net