Korea Flora: Deciduous shrub. Height 2m. Winter Buds and Stems: Much branched with short thorns (6-12mm long); two-year-old branches red or dark brown. Leaves: Alternate, thick, spathulate, ovate, or elliptic, 3-8cm × 2-4cm, apex obtuse, base cuneate; teeth wavy (not sharp), irregular and widely spaced (1.5-7.0mm apart), with fewer serrations. Both surfaces glabrous; lower surface heavily wrinkled and grayish-green. Petiole 3-12mm long. Flowers: Perfect (hermaphroditic), in racemes shorter than leaves with 15-20 flowers, 5-7cm long; pedicels 7-10mm long. Flowers 7-8mm in size. Fruit and Seeds: Globose or ovoid-globose, 7mm in diameter, red.

Flowering Period: May
Fruiting Period: September
Distribution: Korean endemic, found in Gyeonggi-do and parts of Gangwon-do

Taxonomic Notes: This species is clearly distinguished from Berberis amurensis by its shorter thorns on young branches, more rounded fruits, and fewer, wavy, sparsely developed serrations on leaves. Mainly found in Gyeonggi-do with some collections from Gangwon-do regions. Due to the small population size, detailed population surveys of its distribution are needed.