leatherleaf mahonia
Mahonia bealei
Summary 9
Mahonia bealei (Beale's barberry) is a shrub native to mainland China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang). The species has sometimes been regarded as the same species as Mahonia japonica, native to Taiwan, but the two differ consistently in certain floral and leaf characters. Both species are widely cultivated in many countries as ornamentals. Mahonia bealei has reportedly escaped cultivation and
Description 10
Leatherleaf mahonia is native to China. It has been planted as an ornamental and is invading woodlands in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states. It is an evergreen shrub that grows 5-10 ft. tall. The unusual leaves are pinnately compound, about 18 in. long with 9-13 paired, glossy holly-like leaflets. The leaflet margins have 2-7 teeth per side that are about ¼ in. or less in length. Leaflets are very thick and stiff. Flowering occurs in early spring. Fragrant yellow flowers emerge from the tips of the plant in attractive spike-like sprigs. The fruits are green berries that turn bluish black with a grayish bloom. Fruits hang in grapelike clusters.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Steve Rainwater, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/steevithak/7028520023/
- (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matthew Beziat
- (c) mmn_noriko, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by mmn_noriko
- (c) gwubiodiversity, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by botanygirl
- (c) gs2128stephanie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/cricketsblog/25017735242/
- (c) Sean P. Myers, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sean P. Myers
- Adapted by Kate Wagner from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahonia_bealei
- (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22734067
