Berberis higginsiae is a shrub found only in a small region south and east of San Diego in southern California and northern Baja California. It grows in chaparral and woodland areas at elevations of . Berberis higginsiae is evergreen, with thick, stiff compound leaves. It sometimes reaches a height of up to . It is similar to B. fremontii and B. haematocarpa but with narrower leaflets and yellowish-red berries. The compound leaves place this species in the group sometimes segregated as the genus Mahonia. References higginsiae Flora of California Flora of Baja California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Flora without expected TNC conservation status