Coast Barberry, California Barberry, Shiny-leaf Mahonia, Shinyleaf Mahonia, Wavyleaf Barberry, Mahonia pinnata
Beautiful and easy, Berberis pinnata (California Barberry) is a vigorous medium-sized evergreen shrub with multi-season interest. In spring, dense terminal clusters of cheerful, bright golden-yellow flowers appear just above the leaves. They attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of round blue-black berries in late summer. Resembling small grapes, numerous birds feast on them. Edible, the berries may be eaten fresh off the plant, but they are a bit sour and full of seeds. The lustrous evergreen foliage of holly-like, wavy-edged, leathery leaves, emerges coppery-tinted in spring, then matures to glossy dark green by summer. This Berberis species is quite similar to Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape), and is sometimes called California Oregon Grape. Upright and slow-growing, California Barberry is native to coastal mountains, often near seeps or springs, on north-facing slopes, and in the fog belt, from Oregon to Baja California, where it occurs in forest, woodland, chaparral, and other habitat.
| Hardiness |
7 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Berberidaceae |
| Genus | Berberis |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid), Summer (Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 3' - 7' (90cm - 210cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Spacing | 60" (150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Pacific Northwest, California, Oregon |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden |
| Hardiness |
7 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Berberidaceae |
| Genus | Berberis |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid), Summer (Late), Fall, Winter |
| Height | 3' - 7' (90cm - 210cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm) |
| Spacing | 60" (150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Pacific Northwest, California, Oregon |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden |
How many Berberis pinnata (California Barberry) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Berberis pinnata (California Barberry) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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