Oregon Grape Holly – Mahonia bealei

I’ve been spreading the gospel of great landscaping for many, many years. Part of that process is deciding what plants we should use in a client’s landscape and then showing them what those plants actually look like. Since most folks don’t know much about plants, a  lot of the time the shrubs I’ve suggested are met with tepid acceptance, a shrug, and “hey we trust you.” Not so mahonia.

I have never encountered a more polarizing plant than mahonia bealei. Those who love it, see the clusters of purple berries, the drooping yellow flowers, and the glossy, spiky, space alien-looking foliage and think it’s crazy cool (they’re right). Everyone else sees a spiky, weird plant and they say “heck no, not in my yard!” It’s pretty rare to just get a “meh” reaction.

So yes, the leaves are spiky and a little painful. Don’t run naked in the mahonia patch and you’ll be fine! Otherwise, mahonia bealei is a super durable evergreen shrub that tolerates everything from full sun to full shade. As mentioned, it gets covered in clusters of hanging yellow flowers that then set fruit with purple berries (thus the common name ‘grape holly’). Size ranges are pretty crazy, with estimates from 4-10 ft high and 3-8 ft wide. Unless it starts growing across a path or something, you’ll rarely need to prune it. Deer do NOT like munching on mahonia.

Sold in 7 gallon containers.