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Mahonia bealei
Also called Beale's barberry, Leatherleaf Mahonia, Oregon grape, Beale's Mahonia
Berberis bealei (Mahonia bealei) is an evergreen shrub from China with spiny, leathery pinnate leaves and grape-like blue berries. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade and sheltered from strong wind.
Berberis bealei, also known as leatherleaf mahonia, Beale's barberry, is a species of evergreen shrub native to mainland China. The species has been regarded as the same species as Berberis japonica, native to Taiwan, but the two differ consistently in certain floral and leaf characters. Both species are widely cultivated in many countries as ornamentals. Berberis bealei has reportedly escaped cultivation and become established in the wild in scattered places in the south-eastern United States from Arkansas to Florida to Delaware.
Berberis bealei is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7–9 where it is easily grown in moist, well-drained soils in part shade (morning sun or sun dappled shade) to full shade. Also tolerates full sun (albeit often with some bleaching of foliage colors), but only in the cooler northern parts of its growing range. Established plants tolerate some soil dryness and drought. Berberis bealei grows in locations protected from exposure to strong winds. Plants will spread by suckering and seed. Unless naturalization is desired, suckers should be promptly removed as they appear. Single specimen shrubs may fruit poorly. Growing more than one shrub together results in the best fruit production. It is easily propagated from cuttings or seed though is considered invasive in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S.
Berberis bealei is native to China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang) and was brought to Europe in the 1800s. It has been planted as an ornamental plant throughout Europe and the United States. Birds eat the seeds of this plant and spread them widely. Berberis bealei is established in the southern U.S. Berberis bealei is particularly common in bottomland forests and grows well in shade to partial shade. It may not flower if it does not receive at least a few hours of sun each day and does not like hot, midday sun in the southern zones. The shrub's ability to tolerate many sites, and the fact that birds disperse the berries, has allowed it to naturalize in parts of the U.S.
Berberis bealei has been used to treat infections such as strep throat and tuberculosis. This plant can also be used to treat bacterial infections such as dysentery and food poisoning. Berberis bealei is also high in tannins and may help muscle pain, arthritis, and aches associated with fever. Fruits are boiled and strained for medicinal preparations. Plants of the genus Berberis have long been used as medicine in China as a treatment for periodontitis, dysentery, tuberculosis and wounds.
Oregon Grape · Shining Netvein Barberry · Cascade Oregon Grape · Oregon Grape · Berberis oiwakensis
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Berberis bealei by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
