Berberis fremontii
Fremont barberry
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Berberidaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Berberis fremontii (Fremont barberry) is a native California shrub in the Berberidaceae family, recognized by yellow-red fruits distinctive, desert mountains, folded leaflets.
Fremont barberry is a California native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges and eastern Mojave Desert on rocky slopes, in pinyon and juniper woodland, and chaparral at elevations of 900 to 1,850 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters with 8 to 12 blooms. Growing with erect stems up to 4 meters tall, it features dense, crowded branches with distinctive spiny leaflets. Its leaves have 3 to 7 lance-ovate leaflets, each 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long, with wavy margins and 3 to 8 small spines along each edge. The fruit is a glaucous, nearly spherical berry 6 to 15 millimeters in diameter, ranging from yellow to purple-red when ripe.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; yellow-red fruits distinctive, desert mountains, folded leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland, chaparral
Elevation: 900-1850 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Colorado, New Mexico, Mexico
Bloom period
Berberis fremontii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Berberis has compound leaves or simple leaves with regular spiny teeth; Quercus has simple lobed leaves with irregular lobes.; vs Ilex: Berberis has compound leaves or alternate simple leaves; Ilex has only simple leaves that are spirally arranged.; vs Pyracantha: Berberis has yellow flowers and compound or simple spiny-edged leaves; Pyracantha has white flowers and simple leaves with thorns on stems.; vs Rosa: Berberis has yellow flowers with 6 petals; Rosa has pink-white flowers with 5 petals and compound leaves with paired leaflets.; vs Rhaphiolepis: Berberis has yellow flowers and spiny-toothed leaves; Rhaphiolepis has white-pink flowers and simple leaves with smooth or finely toothed edges.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berberis fremontii native to California?
Yes. Berberis fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Berberis fremontii bloom?
Berberis fremontii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Berberis fremontii grow?
Berberis fremontii occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, at elevations of 900-1850 m.
What plant family does Berberis fremontii belong to?
Berberis fremontii is in the Berberidaceae family, genus Berberis.
Is Berberis fremontii rare or endangered?
Berberis fremontii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.