It is native to China (Tibet, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Sichuan) and the Himalayas (Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam, Myanmar).

[4] A paper was published by Joseph Edward Laferrière in 1997 summarized the arguments in favor of Berberis as the correct classification.

There are botanical synonyms listed by Plants of the World Online for each of the subspecies recognized there, a very large number in the case of Berberis napaulensis var.

[9] In the Nilgiris, it is of religious and medicinal importance to the native Toda people of Tamil Nadu, who call it "Thovari" in their language.

They use a paste made of the bark as a Traditional medicine remedy for women immediately after childbirth.