Mahonia lomariifolia
Family: Berberidaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 3 m high and spreads 2.4 m wide. It develops as a clump of upright cane-like stems. These have a ring of long spiny leaves near the top. The leaves are reddish-bronze when young and dark green when mature. The leaves are 60 cm long and tend to hang down. They are made up of 20 to 40 spiny leaflets. The flowers are soft yellow and in upright spikes. They are crowded at the tips of the stems. The fruit are purple-blue.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Indochina, Myanmar (country/location of origin), SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seed or by division of the suckers.