Calafate

Berberis microphylla

Thorny, wind-proof and loaded with blue-black berries; Patagonians say whoever eats one will come back.

Type: shrub · berries and small fruit
Hardiness: zones 6 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 5 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Harvest: January to March
From: Patagonia
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.

Native to: Southern Cone & Patagonia. Hardy in zones 6 to 9.

The story

Calafate gives its name to a town on the edge of the Patagonian ice field. The Tehuelche and Selk'nam ate the berries and used the wood and roots for dye, and the legend that one taste will bring you back to Patagonia is told to every visitor.

Planting

Full sun, cool summers and well-drained soil. It shrugs off wind, cold and drought.

Growing

Little care; thin old stems every few years. Wear thick gloves.

Harvest and use

Pick the blue-black berries in late summer when soft. They are sweet-sharp and seedy, best as jam, syrup or ice cream.

What to watch for

Three-pronged thorns. It dislikes hot, humid summers.

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More berries and small fruit

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home