Native Plant Alternatives to Mahonia bealei (Leatherleaf Mahonia)

Mahonia bealei, commonly known as Beale’s barberry or leatherleaf mahonia, is native to China. In certain regions outside of its native range, it has been reported as invasive.

Leatherleaf Mahonia is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

It’s particularly problematic in the Southeastern United States, where it has escaped cultivation and invaded forests and other natural areas. The plant is shade-tolerant and can form dense thickets, displacing native plants and altering habitats. It spreads both by seed (which are often dispersed by birds) and by underground stems.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.