Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by finely hairy leaves and high Sierra Nevada restriction.
Yosemite coffee berry is a California native shrub found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in chaparral and montane forest at elevations of 1,000 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small greenish-white flowers in delicate clusters. Growing with distinctive red to gray twigs reaching up to one to two meters tall, it develops an open, spreading form. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic to oblong, approximately 30 to 70 millimeters long, with finely hairy surfaces and acute to rounded tips. The shrub forms part of the understory in mixed montane habitats, providing important ecological structure in Sierra Nevada woodland communities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are finely hairy leaves and high Sierra Nevada restriction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, montane forest
Elevation: 1000-2200 m
Bloom period
Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana blooms Apr-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 rubra subsp. yosemitana native to California?
Yes. Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana bloom?
Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana belong to?
Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Frangula.
What habitat does Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana grow in?
Frangula rubra subsp. yosemitana grows in Chaparral, montane forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Frangula sp. — Coffee berry
- Frangula californica — California coffee berry
- Frangula californica subsp. californica
- Frangula californica subsp. crassifolia
- Frangula californica subsp. cuspidata
- Frangula californica subsp. occidentalis
- Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi — Parry's jujube
- Rhamnaceae sp. — Buckthorn family
- Rhamnus alaternus — Italian buckhorn
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.