Fremont's Mahonia Berberis fremontii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mahonia fremontii
- Phonetic Spelling
- BUR-bur-is free-MON-tee-eye
- Description
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Fremont barberry is an upright evergreen shrub in the Berberidaceae (barberry) family that is native to the slopes and grasslands of the southwestern U.S.A. and Mexico. The Latin name fremontii comes from the bontical collector John C. Fremont. It grows to a mature height of 9 to 10 feet sometimes up to 15 feet tall.
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.
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.
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 serious 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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- fremontii
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Zuni people used the crushed fruit to dye skin and for ceremonial purposes. Hopi Indians used it medicinally.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern U.S.A., Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Moth larva are supported.
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dull yellow to red purple to black ellipsoid berry 1/2 wide.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately compound alternate drab gray-green stiff leathery leaflets 2 cm long with wavy spine-tipped margins with teeth. 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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light brown, gray to purple glabrous
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Security
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
