Berberis pinnata
California barberry
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Family: Berberidaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Berberis pinnata (California barberry) is a native California shrub in the Berberidaceae family.
California barberry is a native shrub found in California's coastal and interior mountain ranges in chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed evergreen forest habitats. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in small dense clusters that emerge along arching branches. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with reclining to erect stems, it develops a complex branching structure with sharp spiny edges. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 11 leaflets, each ovate to wide-elliptic with wavy edges and small sharp teeth, creating a distinctive textured appearance. The fruit is a blue-purple, glaucous berry approximately 6 to 8 millimeters in diameter, adding visual interest to the shrub's structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated to specific Central Coast counties
Habitat and range
California counties: San Benito, Marin, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Humboldt, San Mateo, Mariposa, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, Santa Cruz, San Bernardino, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Amador, Ventura, Nevada, Trinity, Solano, Placer
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 pinnata native to California?
Yes. Berberis pinnata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Berberis pinnata grow?
Berberis pinnata occurs in San Benito, Marin, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Humboldt, San Mateo, Mariposa and other counties.
What plant family does Berberis pinnata belong to?
Berberis pinnata is in the Berberidaceae family, genus Berberis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.