Leatherleaf Mahonia
Berberis bealei
Also listed as Mahonia bealei
Also known as Beale's Mahonia, Beal's Mahonia, Beale's Barberry
Climate Match for your location
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A dense, upright evergreen shrub prized for its dramatic blue-gray, deeply lobed leaflets and fragrant clusters of bright yellow flowers that bloom in winter. Produces blue-black berries that attract birds.
Why grow it
Leatherleaf mahonia offers winter interest that many deciduous shrubs cannot match, with fragrant yellow flower clusters appearing when few other plants bloom. The blue-gray foliage and subsequent berry production provide seasonal color variation and wildlife value. It tolerates partial shade and poor soils better than many ornamental evergreens, making it useful in difficult sites where alternatives struggle.
Watch out for
This shrub performs best in well-draining soil and may develop chlorosis in highly alkaline conditions. It can become leggy over time and benefits from selective pruning to maintain density, particularly in lower-light locations. The plant's spread through self-sown berries should be monitored in garden settings to prevent volunteer seedlings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Berberidaceae
Native Range
China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A dense, upright evergreen shrub prized for its dramatic blue-gray, deeply lobed leaflets and fragrant clusters of bright yellow flowers that bloom in winter. Produces blue-black berries that attract birds.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Leatherleaf Mahonia grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Leatherleaf mahonia offers winter interest that many deciduous shrubs cannot match, with fragrant yellow flower clusters appearing when few other plants bloom. The blue-gray foliage and subsequent berry production provide seasonal color variation and wildlife value. It tolerates partial shade and poor soils better than many ornamental evergreens, making it useful in difficult sites where alternatives struggle.
Watch out for
This shrub performs best in well-draining soil and may develop chlorosis in highly alkaline conditions. It can become leggy over time and benefits from selective pruning to maintain density, particularly in lower-light locations. The plant's spread through self-sown berries should be monitored in garden settings to prevent volunteer seedlings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Berberidaceae
Native Range
China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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