Berberis repens

(Creeping Barberry)

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Berberis repens, Ute Pass, Summit Co. 0551/0563

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Berberis repens, Ute Pass, Summit Co. 0582/0595

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Berberis repens, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 8798

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Berberis repens, Ute Pass, Summit Co. 0621

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Leaves, Berberis repens, Lower Cataract Lake, Summit Co. 8838 

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Berberis repens, Lower Cataract Lake, Summit Co. 8843

Scientific Name Berberis repens (Mahonia repens) USDA PLANTS Symbol BERE
Common Name Creeping Barberry ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 18832
Family Berberidaceae (Barberry) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat and life zones: Foothills to montane (5500 to 10500); hillsides and conifer woods.
Plant: Creeping evergreen shrub 1 to 8 inches tall; grayish to purplish-brown stems with no spines.
Leaves: Pinnately-compound, overall up to 3 inches long; 3 to 5 (or 7) ovate-elliptic leaflets with spiny teeth along edges.
Inflorescence Dense clusters of 25 to 50 small yellow flowers in terminal racemes 1 to 4 inches long, each with 6 yellow sepals surrounding 6 yellow petals.
Fruit: Smooth round, grayish-blue berries, 1/4 to less than 1/2-inch in diameter.
Bloom period: April to June.
References: "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel, "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County