Texas Barberry
Berberis swaseyi
Last reviewed: October 2026
Toxicity unknown
Texas Barberry (Berberis swaseyi) 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
36"–72" H × 48"–72" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
TX
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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Texas Barberry is a compact evergreen shrub native to the Hill Country with small, holly-like leaves and clusters of fragrant yellow flowers in spring. It forms a dense, rounded shape and is extremely drought tolerant once established, making it ideal for low-water landscapes.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Barberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The spring flowers attract native bees and other small pollinators. Birds may use the dense, thorny branches for nesting cover and eat the small berries that follow the flowers.
Common questions
- How much sun does Texas Barberry need?
- Texas Barberry grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Texas Barberry bloom?
- Texas Barberry blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Texas Barberry native?
- Texas Barberry (Berberis swaseyi) is native to TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Texas Barberry HOA-friendly?
- Texas Barberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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 Texas Barberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.