Barberries (Berberis vulgaris) are the fruit of a shrub that grows in much of Europe and West Asia. The fruit has a sharp acid flavor, and is used extensively in the cuisine of Iran, where the fruit is called zereshk; see for example zereshk polo. Barberries are used in Russia and Eastern Europe for jams, candies, and beverages.
Barberries are also found in Patagonia, contributing to Argentina and Chile, where they called calafate and michay.
Cultivation of the barberry in Europe and North America is limited because the barberry shrub is a host of wheat rust fungus, a serious fungal disease of wheat and related grains. As a result, barberry cultivation is prohibited in many areas.
