Mahonia
Mahonia japonica
Family: Berberidaceae
What it is like
A shrub which keeps its leaves all year round. It grows 1.5-2.7 m high and spreads 2.5-3.7 m wide. The leaves are large and arranged at the ends of branches in whorls or rings. These are made up of paired spiny leaflets. The leaflets are leathery and dark green. The flowers are clustered in sprays from the centre of the leaf rosette. They are made up of lemon-yellow bells. The fruit are blue-black berries. These often do not contain seeds.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It can grow in most soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is frost hardy but sensitive to drought. In Taiwan it grows between 800-3,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Europe, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, North America, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the suckers.