Barberry is also known by several other common names, including
Pepperidge Bush. The former combines the words pepon and rouge,
which respectively mean “pip” and “red” and refer to the juicy, bright
red berries of the plant.
Although barberry is a common hedge plant and is frequently seen planted
in rows along the perimeter of farm lands, the shrub was once suspected
of causing blight in wheat crops. Since blight is a fungal infection
that comes from contaminated soil, this theory has been discredited.
However, barberry can play host to another kind of fungus called rust
that effects leaves.
In Europe, barberry root is combined with alum or lye to produce varying
shades of a yellow dye with which to tint cotton, wool and leather.
