California barberry
Mahonia pinnata

Family: Berberidaceae

What it is like

A shrub with a stiff upright habit. It grows 2.4 m tall and forms suckers. The leaves are a flat mid green and have fine teeth along the edge. The leaves are made up of 5 to 9 leaflets with 13 spines on each side. The leaves become red in winter with purple underneath. The flowers are soft yellow. The fruit are bluish-black berries.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Blue barberry, Californian holly grape, Cluster hollygrape, Lena amarilla

Synonyms

Berberis pinnata Lagasca;