Fremont barberry is an upright evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to the slopes and grasslands of the southwestern U.S.A. and Mexico. The Latin name fremontii c omes from the botanical collector John C. Fremont. It grows to a mature height of 9 to 10 feet, sometimes up to 15 feet tall. Plant in full sun in well-drained soils that can be very dry. Propagate this plant by seed, no stratification is necessary. Fremont barberry is resistant to drought and browsing by deer. The shrub can be pruned, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth. The leaves are spiny and look similar to holly plants. New leaves emerge with a purple tinge and mature to a green color and fade to green-blue as they age. The bright yellow fragrant flowers appear in clusters in spring and occasionally again in fall. They are followed by yellowish to dark redish-purple round berries. Use this evergreen shrub in a rock garden or planted along a slope. Its support of moth larvae make it a good candidate for a nighttime or pollinator garden. The spiny leaves work well as a security or screening plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Berberis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Mature size
Height: 9 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Prickly; Smooth
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Pinnately compound alternate stiff leathery leaflets 3/4 inches long with wavy spine-tipped margins Often folded along the midrib, base truncate and tip acute. New leaves are purple when young and mature to green and age blue-green they are crowded on short stems.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Raceme
Flower detail
6 petals and 9 sepals arranged in groups of three of pale to bright yellow. Form inflorences of 8-12 flowers. Blooms appear in the spring and sometimes the fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring
Fruit color
Black; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dull yellow to red purple to black ellipsoid berry 1/2 wide.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Light brown, gray to purple glabrous
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southwestern U.S.A., Mexico
Wildlife value
Moth larva are supported.
Attracts
Moths
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Zuni people used the crushed fruit to dye skin and for ceremonial purposes. Hopi Indians used it medicinally.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden