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red barberry Berberidaceae Mahonia haematocarpa (Wooton) Fedde Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: MAHA4
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, evergreen, 3 to 5 inches long; 3 to 5, narrow, long holly-like leaflets each 2 to 3 inches long, sharply spined teeth, thick, waxy, gray to blue-green above and paler green below.
Flower: Perfect, small (1/2 inch) bright yellow flowers are borne in upright, clusters of 3 to 7 flowers, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Bright red, juicy berries, 1/2 inch across, edible, but sour.
Twig: Main stems are largely unbranched, stiff and upright with compound leaves arising directly from main stems; reddish brown when young, turning gray-brown with age.
Bark: Gray-brown, developing shallow fissures and ridges.
Form: A wide spreading upright shrub reaching up to 12 feet and nearly as wide.
 Looks like: tall Oregon-grape - Nevine's barberry - Fremont barberry

red barberry leaf image
red barberry flower image
red barberry fruit image
red barberry twig image
red barberry bark image
red barberry form image
red barberry map image

Additional Range Information: Mahonia haematocarpa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information