Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana
Photo: parent species Frangula purshiana · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana is a native California shrub / tree in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by tree form potential and rounded/cordate leaf bases.
California coffeeberry is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, excluding the North Coast Ranges Interior, in coastal scrub, conifer forest, and forest edges at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces small greenish flowers with delicate margins. Growing to a height of 12 meters with distinctive gray bark and reddish to brown twigs, it develops an elegant, multi-stemmed form. Its thin green leaves have rounded or heart-shaped bases, measuring 5 to 25 millimeters long, with irregular tooth margins and occasionally sparse hairs. The shrub creates a graceful, woodland understory presence with its soft-textured foliage and subtle coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are tree form potential and rounded/cordate leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, conifer forest, forest edges, non-serpentine
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Yuba, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Mendocino
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Heteromeles: Frangula has simple leaves and naked buds; Heteromeles has toothed leaves and scaly buds.; vs Prunus: Frangula berries turn from red to black; Prunus fruits are uniform colored when ripe.; vs Rhamnus: Frangula buds are naked (no scales); Rhamnus buds have protective scales.; vs Quercus: Frangula has opposite or alternate smooth leaves; Quercus has spiral lobed or toothed leaves.; vs Umbellularia: Frangula leaves lack strong aroma; Umbellularia leaves smell strongly spicy when crushed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana native to California?
Yes. Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana bloom?
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana grow?
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana occurs in Yuba, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Mendocino, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana belong to?
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Frangula.
What habitat does Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana grow in?
Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana grows in Coastal scrub, conifer forest, forest edges, non-serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.