Leatherleaf mahonia is a woody, perennial, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). Native to southern and central China, it was brought to Europe in the 1800s and has since become established in parts of the southeastern United States, including North Carolina where it is invasive. The “Beale” honored by the epithet was not specified. It is an erect, coarse, multi-stemmed, slow-growing plant with a lot of sharp edges. It grows 4 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide and spreads by reseeding and suckering which can form a colony. The yellow flowers in midwinter are a valuable source of nectar and pollen, but they are frequently consumed by deer. Leatherleaf mahonia is not recommended for planting in landscapes. Please consider planting a native or less problematic shrub instead. Suggestions appear 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. Leaf spots, powdery mildew and rusts may occur. Watch for aphids, scale and whiteflies. 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. More information on Berberis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Prickly
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are lemon yellow and weakly foetid. Inflorescence is in short, crowded terminal upright racemes 3 to 6 inches long.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Fruits are globose berries that are blue-black in color and less than an inch in size.
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
Tan glaborous stems
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Stems are roundish, stout, and become gray-brown as they mature.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central & Southern China
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees and fruit attracts birds.
Attracts
Bees; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.