Plant · GBIF taxon 3039459
coffeeberry
Frangula californicaAlso known as California Coffeeberry, California Buckthorn, Pigeonberry
Coffeeberry is a dense, evergreen native shrub found across chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands of western North America. Its dark green, leathery leaves feature prominent parallel veins, complemented by reddish young stems. During late summer, clusters of fruit transition from green to bright red and finally deep purple, offering a rich food source for local birds and small mammals.
EvergreenNative ShrubDrought-Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Soil Moisture
- Mineral Nutrients
Predators
- Deer
- Birds
- Small Mammals
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive weed competition, altered fire regimes
HabitatsChaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, foothill pine forest
Life span50–100+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRosales
- FamilyRhamnaceae
- GenusFrangula
- SpeciesFrangula californica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for prominent parallel leaf veins that curve toward the leaf edge and reddish young stems.
- Wildlife Watching: Observe fruiting shrubs in late summer to spot feeding thrushes, towhees, and foxes.
- Landscaping: Plant in well-drained soil as a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant native hedge.
Image unavailableFrequent Companion 
Overstory Companion (c) Franco Folini, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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