Alternate name: Agarita Barberry, Agarito, Trifoliate Barberry

Family: Berberidaceae, Barberry view all from this family

Description Evergreen flowering shrub. Branches rigid, spreading often forming thickets. Foliage gray-green to blue-gray, trifoliate, resembes holly with needle-sharp tips. Clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers followed by red berries May to July.

Dimensions Height: 1-2 m. (3-6 ft.).

Habitat Scrub, shrub & brushlands, Canyons & valleys.

Range Southwest, Texas, Southeast, Great Lakes.

Discussion Also known as algerita, Laredo mahonia, and trifoliate barberry. Birds eat the fruit. Highly deer resistant.

Exposure Preference Sun.

Flower March

Native Distribution Coastal s. Texas through Trans-Pecos to s. Arizona & n. Mexico

Site Preference Hills; open woods; rocky slopes & cliffs

Soil Preference Rocky, limestone soil.

Wildlife Value Songbirds eat fruits. Quail and small mammals use the plant for cover. Considered a good honey source.