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Mahonia bealei - (Fortune.)Carrière.

Common Name Beale's barberry, Leatherleaf Mahonia
Family Berberidaceae
USDA hardiness 5-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp woodlands in uplands around 2000 metres[184].
Range E. Asia - W. China in Hupeh, Hubei, Sichuan and Taiwan.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Mahonia bealei Beale


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Mahonia bealei Beale
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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Late winter, Mid spring, Mid winter. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Mahonia bealei is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from January to March, and the seeds ripen from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked. A pleasant acid flavour, it is nice when added to muesli or porridge[K]. Unfortunately, there is relatively little flesh and a lot of seeds[K]. The fruit is about 10mm long and 6mm wide[200], it ripens in April/May and if the plant is in a sheltered position the crops can be fairly heavy[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Antiphlogistic  Antirheumatic  Cancer  Depurative  Dysentery  Febrifuge  Tonic


The leaf is febrifuge and tonic[218]. A decoction of the root and stems is antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, depurative and febrifuge[147, 218]. A decoction is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, recurring fever and cough in rundown body systems, rheumatoid arthritis, backache, weak knees, dysentery and enteritis[147]. The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn[213]. Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects[218] and is used as a bitter tonic[213]. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[218]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[218]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Pest tolerant, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. Thrives in any good garden soil[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Survives under quite heavy tree cover[11], thriving in dense shade[182]. Prefers a semi-shaded woodland position in a damp, slightly acid to neutral humus-rich soil[200]. The fully dormant plant is hardy to about -20°c[184], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Scarcely distinct from M. japonica[11, 200], differing mainly in its broader leaflets which are placed closer together on the stem and its erect flower racemes[245]. It is often treated as a subspecies of M. japonica, despite the fact that this species is found in the wild whilst M. japonica is a cultigen and not a wild plant[11, 200]. Plants of the two species are often confused in cultivation. The flowers are sweetly scented[245]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[78]. It usually germinates in the spring[K]. 'Green' seed (harvested when the embryo has fully developed but before the seed case has dried) should be sown as soon as it is harvested and germinates within 6 weeks[K]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in late winter or spring. 3 weeks cold stratification will improve its germination, which should take place in 3 - 6 months at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division of suckers in spring[78]. Whilst they can be placed direct into their permanent positions, better results are achieved if they are potted up and placed in a frame until established[11]. Leaf cuttings in the autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, China*, Europe, Indochina, Japan, Mexico, North America, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA, Vietnam,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
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Mahonia aquifoliumOregon Grape, Hollyleaved barberry, Oregon Holly Grape, Oregon HollyShrub2.0 4-8 FLMHFSNDM333
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Mahonia pumilaDwarf BarberryShrub0.3 6-9 SLMSNDM323
Mahonia repensCreeping Oregon Grape, Creeping barberry, Grape OregonShrub0.3 4-8 SLMHSNDM334
Mahonia swaseyiTexas Mahonia, Texas barberryShrub2.5 7-10  LMHNDM32 
Mahonia trifoliolataMexican Barberry, AlgeritaShrub2.0 6-9  LMHNDM324
Mahonia x media Shrub2.0 6-9  LMHFSNM320

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Fortune.)Carrière.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

   Dec 7 2011 12:00AM

these are abundant in urban areas and when fully ripe are very palatable. plants vary, and some seem to be seedless. because of urban maintainance schedules the berries can be ready any time from july onward. as of december there is still a local plant heavy with perfectly ripe fruit. they make wonderful syrup and can be dried like currants.

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Subject : Mahonia bealei  
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