Dwarf barberry
Mahonia pumila
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Dwarf barberry (Mahonia pumila) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–18" H × 12"–30" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA, OR
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Low, spreading evergreen shrub with spiny holly-like leaflets and clusters of small bright yellow flowers in spring, followed by dusty blue berries. Forms a dense groundcover on dry sandy or rocky slopes near the coast.
Wildlife value
Spring flowers attract bees, and the blue berries are eaten by birds in summer.
Common questions
- How much sun does Dwarf barberry need?
- Dwarf barberry grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Dwarf barberry bloom?
- Dwarf barberry blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Dwarf barberry native?
- Dwarf barberry (Mahonia pumila) is native to CA, OR, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Dwarf barberry attract?
- Dwarf barberry draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Dwarf barberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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