Berberis bealei
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mahonia bealei
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is BEE-lee-eye
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Leatherleaf mahonia is an evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae) native to China. It was was brought to Europe in the 1800s and has since been spread by birds to become established in parts of the southeastern United States.
This is an informal, multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub with irregular, strong upright stems. It grows up to 10' tall, is upright, and is scarcely branching. This plant has a tiering habit and cane-like growth. It is drought-tolerant and moderately salt-tolerant. The color will bleach out if this shrub is grown in full sun, but it does require a few hours of sun per day to flower. It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil but tolerates heavy clay. It spreads by suckers and can form colonies. The shrub can be pruned, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth.
Showy, fragrant yellow blooms appear in the late winter. to early spring. Abundant grape-like fruits appear in late summer. Leaves are holly-like and spiny.
It is considered invasive in parts of the southeast and the NC Invasive Plant Council lists this plant as invasive in NC. Please consider planting native shrubs. See some suggestions to the left.
Quick ID Hints:
- Odd pinnately compound, stiff evergreen leaves
- Leaflets are sessile, spiny, terminal larger than laterals
- Medium evergreen shrub with tiering habit
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The NC Invasive Plant Council lists this plant as invasive in NC. No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf spots, powdery mildew and rusts may occur. Watch for aphids, scale and whiteflies. See native alternatives to the left.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- bealei
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Southern China
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees and fruit attracts birds.
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are globose berries that are blue-black in color and less than an inch in size.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are lemon yellow and weakly foetid. Inflorescence is in short, crowded terminal upright racemes 3 to 6 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The rigid olive-green leaves are alternate and odd-pinnately compound with 5 to 9 leaflets that are sessile with the terminal leaflet being larger than the lateral leaflets. They have spiny margins and are up to 4 inches long. The compound leaves are 1 to 1.5 feet long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Tan glaborous stems
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are roundish, stout, and become gray-brown as they mature.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
