Taxon Report

Berberis higginsiae Munz

Higgin's barberry

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Berberis higginsiae, commonly known as Higgin's barberry, is a perennial shrub in the Berberidaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 800 to 1065 meters. Berberis higginsiae is ranked 3.2, Plants About Which We Need More Information, A Review List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Berberis higginsiae Munz
Common Name:	Higgin's barberry
Family:	Berberidaceae
Element Code:	PDBER06080
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial shrub
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	800-1065 (2625-3495)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Granitic (sometimes), Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	3.2
Global Rank:	G3Q
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from CBR to 3.2 on 2014-04-30 Considered But Rejected on 2011-07-01

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Jacumba (3211662), Live Oak Springs (3211663)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	86 %
Development	6	85%
Other	6	85%

Notes



Move to CRPR 2B? Taxonomy extremely complex; overlaps with B. fremontii in leaflet and fruit morphology. Definitive study needed. Potentially threatened by wind energy development. Not in TJM (1993). See Aliso 4(1):91-92 (1958) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Re-addition to CRPR 3.2, G4Q / S2 (2014)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 9 November 2025].