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California Barberry

Mahonia pinnata

California barberry is a glossy, holly-like evergreen with wavy spined leaflets, bright yellow late-winter flowers, and powder-blue berries. A versatile deer-resistant shrub for sun or part shade.

Family
Berberidaceae
Type
shrub
Lifespan
perennial
Height
2–6 ft
Spacing
3–5 ft apart
Light
sun, part shade
Soil moisture
dry, moist
Soil pH
neutral, acidic
Bloom
February, March, April
Bloom colors
yellow
Wildlife value
pollinators, songbirds, larval host
Caterpillar hosts
~12 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
hedge or screen, foundation
Native states
CA