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Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) Coffeeberry is a pretty thickly grown shrub, generally 3 to 6 feet tall. You may first notice a coffeeberry because it is a bit darker and greener than shrubs near it. When you think you have a coffeeberry, rub your fingers along the leaf edge, which will feel rough even though you don’t always see the serrations. Leaves have a strong central vein, with secondary veins that curl towards the tip as they reach the edge. New stems are reddish before they grow woody. Fruit is a ¼ inch round ball, red, turning to black.
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Field ID Tips · Leaves 3” long, pointy. Often darker than leaves on other plants. 7 or 8 veins branch out from a strong central vein, curving toward the leaf tip as they approach the edge. · Leaf edges curl under. They’re not obviously serrated, but feel rough. · Early fruit is red, turning black. · Stems often red.
New leaves with red stems
Tiny 5-part flowers
Red and black berries [AB] says coyotes eat and spread the seed, which contains a mild laxative. Links: |
A pretty mixture of green, gold, and red.
Five-part flowers with purple accents. Note the leaf veins curling towards the tip, and the rough leaf edges.
Coffeeberry has red and black berries. Toyon has similar leaves and berries, but the toyon berry has separations at the bottom of the berry, and the toyon leaf has larger serrations, and veins that branch a second time as they near the leaf edge. Toyon berries: |
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