Bongardia is a very small genus of plants belonging to the family Berberidaceae, and first described in 1831.

[1][4][5] The genus was monotypic until 1996, when the Pakistani populations were recognised by Govaerts as belonging to a second, distinct species.

These rare plants are native to rocky mountain slopes and cultivated fields where summers are dry and winters are spent under snow.

The genus was named in honour of Gustav Heinrich von Bongard (1786–1839), a German botanist, professor at St. Petersburg Imperial University.

A porous soil and year-round protection from excessive moisture with a period of hot summer drought are required for them to thrive.