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Tree Turmeric

Berberis aristata

Also called Indian Barberry

Tree Turmeric
Photo: L. Shyamal, CC BY-SA 3.0

Tree turmeric (Berberis aristata) is an erect, spiny shrub of the Barberry family, native to the Himalayas and southern India, growing 2 to 3 m tall with yellow inner bark. It is grown in cool temperate gardens and is valued for its edible berries and yellow dye.

Family
Berberidaceae (Barberry family)
Grows as
Tree, Shrub
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water regularly while establishing, then allow the top of the soil to dry between waterings.
Soil
Well-drained loam or garden soil; tolerates poor, rocky soils.
Temperature
5–30 °C; hardy to about -20 °C, protect young plants from hard frost.
How easy
Easy
Native range
Himalaya to S. Tibet and C. India
Climate
temperate

About

Berberis aristata, also known as Indian barberry, Mara manjal (மரமஞ்சள்), chutro, sumba, sumbal Daruharidra, or tree turmeric, is a shrub belonging to the family Berberidaceae and the genus Berberis. B. aristata is native to the Himalayas in India and in Pakistan and in Nepal. It is also naturally found in the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India and in Sri Lanka.

Uses

The fruits of the species are eaten by people living in areas where the plant is found, often as a dessert. They are juicy and contain plenty of sugars and other useful nutrients that supplement their diet. The roots can also be used for making an alcoholic drink.

Other Berberis plants

American barberry · Darwin's Barberry · Berberis empetrifolia · Colorado barberry · Berberis ×hortensis · Berberis ilicifolia · Barberry Family · Wintergreen barberry · Berberis laurina · Boxthorn Barberry · Berberis temolaica · Japanese barberry

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Berberis aristata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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