Common names:
Kofa barberry, Harrison's barberry
Family:
Scientific name:
Berberis harrisoniana
Main flower color:
Range:
The Kofa and Ajo mountains, southern Arizona
Height:
Up to 5 feet
Habitat:
Shady, rocky places, from 2,500 to 3,500 feet
Leaves:
Evergreen, spiny, trifoliate; leaflet blades ovate to lanceolate, up to 2.1 inches long and 1.2 inches wide, lined by spiny lobes
Season:
January to March
Berberis harrisoniana is an uncommon species, found only in the Ajo and Kofa mountain ranges, in Arizona, where it inhabits shady places in canyons and rocky hillsides, and blooms late winter/early spring.
All leaves are trifoliate, with all three leaflets attached at the same point, at the tip of a pale green stalk up to 2 inches in length. Leaflets are dull green, on both surfaces, lined by three to five spiny lobes. There are no spines on the woody branches.
Flowers are arranged in relatively open clusters, of between six and 11; far fewer than some other berberis species. The all-yellow flowers consist of six sepals, six petals, six stamens and a central style. Fruits are round, juicy berries, dark blue to black.
All leaves are trifoliate, with all three leaflets attached at the same point, at the tip of a pale green stalk up to 2 inches in length. Leaflets are dull green, on both surfaces, lined by three to five spiny lobes. There are no spines on the woody branches.
Flowers are arranged in relatively open clusters, of between six and 11; far fewer than some other berberis species. The all-yellow flowers consist of six sepals, six petals, six stamens and a central style. Fruits are round, juicy berries, dark blue to black.
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