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Mahonia swaseyi
Mahonia swaseyi (Buckley ex Young) Fedde
Texas Barberry, Texas Oregon-grape
Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)
Synonym(s): Berberis swaseyi
USDA Symbol: MASW
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Shrub up to 3 or 6 feet tall. Leaves up to 3 inches long, with 2 to 4 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one on a central axis; leaflets firm textured, evergreen, margins with spiny teeth, veins prominent on the lower surface. Flowers yellow, about 3/8 inch wide, appearing from late February to early April. Fruit a red berry, edible.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Fruit: White or red, 9-16 mm.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: TXNative Distribution: In TX, Edwards Plateau to Panhandle
Native Habitat: Open fields; wood borders; limestone ridges
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Description: Rocky, calcareous soils.
Conditions Comments: Endemic to the Hill Country in many settings.Has many attrubutes of the more familiar Agarita (Mahonia trifoliata) with a larger longer leaf but similar look.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Fruit is eaten by birds and other wildlife.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: High
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Edible plants native to Austin, TX
August 05, 2009
Hello,
I am a chef from Buenos Aires Argentina visiting Austin, Texas and would like to learn about native, edible plants in the region.
Please let me know if there are any native, edible plants...
view the full question and answer
Shrub to hide chain link fence
August 12, 2008
Mr. Smarty Plants, Please recommend a tall, thick shrub to conceal the 6 foot chain link fence around the perimeter of our property. The fence is located down a hill from our home with western exposur...
view the full question and answer
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1038 Collected 2007-06-10 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Mahonia swaseyi in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Mahonia swaseyi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Mahonia swaseyi
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-17Research By: EJF, DEW