In the low, warmer sections of the desert, plants in blossom may be found as early as February.
YELLOW
Berberis trifoliata
Berberis haematocarpa
Common names: ALGERITA, BARBERRY, HOLLYGRAPE Arizona desert: (Berberis haematocarpa). Yellow. February-April. California desert: (Berberis fremonti). Yellow. May-July. Texas desert. (Berberis trifoliolata). Yellow. Spring. Barberry family. Size: Shrubs, 3 to 8 feet.
The pendant clusters of golden blossoms are particularly noticeable because of their delightful fragrance, and the small purple berries are juicy and of pleasant flavor. They make excellent jelly and are readily eaten by birds and some of the small mammals. Due to the holly-like leaves and the fragrant blossoms and fruits, the plants would make attractive ornamentals for landscape and decorative plantings were it not for the fact that they are secondary hosts for the black stem rust of the cereals, hence cannot be used in communities where grains are grown. Indians use the root as a tonic, and obtain from it a brilliant yellow dye.
Some botanists prefer to use the generic name Mahonia or Odostemon for this group of plants.
YELLOW
Lesquerella gordoni
