Plant of the Month

Plant of the Month: November 2024

Mahonia

Mahonia

BERBERIDACEÆ; Barberry Family

Mahonia are spiny evergreen shrubs with bright yellow wood under their bark. Many botanists now make Mahonia a Berberis synonym. In that sense, Berberis has 600+ species, varied highly and distributed widely. Other botanists --and most gardeners-- prefer to split Mahonia from Berberis. A 2017 study split Berberis into 4 genera:

Berberis s.s. (that is: in the strict or narrow sense) of ± 500 widepread species, most temperate and alpine; some deciduous; leaves simple; stem almost always spiny.

Alloberberis of 11 species in SW USA & México; stem spineless; leaves evergreen, 3 - 9 leaflets; berries yellowish-red, purplish-red, red, or purple.

Moranothamnus of 1 species in Baja; leaves simple to 7 leaflets; berries dark blue.

Mahonia of <100 widepread species, chiefly in the cool N hemisphere, mainly E & SE Asian with summer rainfall, and western North America with dry summers; stem spineless; leaves evergreen, 5 - 40 leaflets; berries blue or black.

Berberis s.s. is never grown as a houseplant, but at least 3 Mahonia species are grown inside very rarely. Their spiny leaves, and sometimes large size, is bold visually, and much appreciated, but limits their usage. Obviously, the smaller species with less spiny leaves, are most practical as pot plants --such as Mahonia eurybracteata Soft Caress® (not reported edible, but likely is). Certain western North American Mahonia grow in sun and resent summer irrigation; most Asian Mahonia grow in shade and require summer moisture to thrive. The several species suggested for indoors, are all Asian, and can thrive on shady balconies. A few Mahonia can become small trees over 25 feet tall. All can be kept small by pruning. Most Mahonia flower clusters are dense, with 25 - 70 yellow, often fragrant small flowers, in fall, winter or early spring. As only Mahonia (not Berberis s.s.) is grown inside, my edibility data presented here is limited to it. Except for where noted otherwise, the 19 species below are reported to bear sour berries, edible when fully ripe; used for juice, jelly, and so on. Nurseries sell Mahonia hybrids commonly, and some of them produce berries that are likely edible as well. The same applies to rarer Mahonia species. If one grows a lone Mahonia, indoors or out, it may not bear fruit. Overall, Mahonia are far more valued as ornamentals or medicinal plants, than as food sources. Some bear tender young leaves that are edible and pleasingly acidic. My edible houseplants book supplies complete details, synonymous scientific names, geographic distribution, and so on.

M. Aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.

(Tall Oregon-Grape. Holly Grape. Shining Oregon-Grape. Oregon Grape Holly. Washington Holly. Ash Barberry. Holly-leaved Mahonia)

M. Bealei (Fort.) Pynaert

(Leatherleaf Mahonia. 阔叶十大功劳 Kuo Ye Shi Da Gong Lao)

M. Bodinieri Gagnep.

(小果十大功劳 Xiao Guo Shi Da Gong Lao)

M. Duclouxiana Gagnep.

(长柱十大功劳 Chang Zhu Shi Da Gong Lao)

M. Fortunei (Lindl.) Fedde

(Chinese Mahonia. 十大功劳 Shi Da Gong Lao)

M. Fremontii (Torr.) Fedde

(Fremont Barberry. Desert Mahonia)