Bloomipedia
Fremont barberry (Berberis fremontii)
Photo: brunsonm via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Fremont barberry

Berberis fremontii

Native to Utah

Fremont barberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

6states
1,266UT sightings*
1,980U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Utah

Quick look

Berberis fremontii is a species of barberry known by the common name Frémont's mahonia.

  • It belongs to the Berberidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Utah. NatureServe
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,266 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #40 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

Fremont barberry gift ideas

Handmade fremont barberry gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Utah, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Utah (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (95 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, leaves, roots, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Ingestion of the toxic parts can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.” They also note: “Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records fremont barberry in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah.

Utah counties with USDA records: Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Washington, Wayne.

More Utah flowers

Creeping mahonia (Berberis repens)

Creeping mahonia

Berberis repens

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: March–June
Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha)

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: April–June
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: May–August

Sources