Berberidaceae
Common barberry
Berberis vulgaris
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Genus
- Berberis
Pets and kids
- CatsNot sure
- DogsNot sure
- KidsMildly toxic
Why
Cats: Not sure
We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.
Dogs: Not sure
We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.
Kids: Mildly toxic
Mildly toxic to young children. Toxic principle: berberine.
Signs: stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free
Is Common barberry safe for cats, dogs and kids?
Is Common barberry safe for cats?
We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.
Is Common barberry safe for dogs?
We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.
Is Common barberry safe for kids?
No. Our sources call Common barberry mildly toxic to young children. Toxic principle: berberine. Signs: stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.
Common names
By language (56)
- Arabic
- شجيرة البرباريس, انبرباريس, عقدة, عود الريح, عود ريح مغربي
- Armenian
- Ծորենի սովորական
- arz
- شجيرة البرباريس
- Asturian
- Espinela
- azb
- عادی زیرینج
- Azerbaijani
- Adi zirinc
- Belarusian
- Барбарыс звычайны, Звычайны барбарыс
- Bulgarian
- Обикновен кисел трън
- Catalan
- Coralets, Coralet, Espinavineta
- Chinese
- 刺小檗, 刺檗, 刺黄檗, 欧洲小檗
- Croatian
- Žutika, Šimširika
- csb
- Zwëczajnô słowiczëna
- Czech
- Dřišťál obecný
- Danish
- Almindelig berberis
- Dutch
- Zuurbes, Gewone Zuurbes
- English
- Common barberry, Barberry, European barberry
- Esperanto
- Ordinara berberiso
- Estonian
- Harilik kukerpuu, Kukerpuu
- Finnish
- Ruostehappomarja
- French
- Épine-vinette, Epine-vinette, Épine vinette, Épine-vinette vulgaire
- Galician
- Arleira, Berberiz
- Georgian
- Ჩვეულებრივი კოწახური
- German
- Berberitze, Echte Berberitze, Essigbeere, Gemeine Berberitze, Sauerdorn, Gemeiner Sauerdorn, Gewöhnliche Berberitze, Sauerdorn, Basselbeere
- Greek
- Βερβερίς η κοινή, Ευρωπαϊκή οξυάκανθα
- gv
- Barbrag
- hsb
- Wšědna kisyca, Kisałe jahodki, Kisały ćerń, Čerwjene kitki
- Hungarian
- Sóskaborbolya, Közönséges borbolya
- Irish
- Barbróg
- Italian
- Crespino comune, Crespino
- Japanese
- セイヨウメギ, バーベリー, ベルベリス・ブルガリス, 西洋目木
- Kazakh
- Кәдімгі бөріқарақат
- Korean
- 불가리스 매자
- Kyrgyz
- Ысырык
- Latvian
- Parastā bārbele
- Lithuanian
- Paprastasis raugerškis, Epine-vinette
- lld
- Berberizia
- Macedonian
- Кисел трн, Жолтика, Обична жолтика
- Norwegian Bokmål
- Berberis, Vanlig berberis
- Persian
- زرشک خوراکی
- Polish
- Berberys pospolity, Berberys zwyczajny
- Romanian
- Dracilă
- Russian
- Барбарис обыкновенный
- Serbian
- Šimširika, Шимширика, Berberidis cortex, Berberidis fructus, Berberidis radix
- Serbian (Latin)
- Žutika
- Slovak
- Dráč obyčajný
- Slovenian
- Navadni češmin
- Spanish
- Abrilla, Acetín, Agracejo, Agracejo oficinal, Agracillo, Agracillos, Agracio, Agraciu
- Swedish
- Berberis, Surtorn, Epine-vinette
- Tatar
- Гади бүре карлыганы
- Telugu
- ఎరుపుమణిచెట్టు
- Turkish
- Adi kadıntuzluğu, Avrupa kadıntuzluğu, Kızamık çalısı
- Ukrainian
- Барбарис звичайний, Кислиця
- Uzbek
- Zirk, Qoraqand
- vec
- Grendene
- Walloon
- Bwès Sint-Djuråd, Bwès sint Djuråd
- Welsh
- Pren melyn
Synonyms
- Berberis angulizans hort.
- Berberis globularis hort. ex Lavallée
- Berberis racemosa Stokes
- Berberis vulgaris var. orientalis Papava
- Berberis vulgaris var. sulcata Ahrendt
Flowers
- In flower
- April to June (from 669 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Shrub
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Canada: introduced, Lower 48 states: introduced
Photos
FlowerPhoto: Tom Norton, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Tom Norton, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Tom Norton, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Tom Norton, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Patrick Hacker, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Tom Norton, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Schurdl, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Schurdl, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Thomas Koffel, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Roland.aprent, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Thomas Ebner, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
More in Berberis
- Hollyleaved barberryBerberis aquifoliumBerberidaceae
- Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergiiBerberidaceae
- Box-leaved barberryBerberis microphyllaBerberidaceae
- Darwin's barberryBerberis darwiniiBerberidaceae
- Wintergreen barberryBerberis julianaeBerberidaceae
- Berberis aristataBerberidaceae
- Amur barberryBerberis amurensisBerberidaceae
- Salmon barberryBerberis aggregataBerberidaceae
- Korean barberryBerberis koreanaBerberidaceae
- Berberis verruculosaBerberidaceae
- Gagnepain's barberryBerberis gagnepainiiBerberidaceae
- Berberis ilicifoliaBerberidaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.