Mahonia pinnata subsp. insularis
Common name: 
Island Barberry
Pronunciation: 
ma-HO-ni-a pin-NAY-tuh in-sul-AR-is
Family: 
Berberidaceae
Genus: 
Mahonia
Synonyms: 
Berberis pinnata subsp. insularis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Evergreen shrub about 6-10 ft (2-3 m) tall, upright, produces new shoots from short underground runners and form colonies up to 10 ft (3 m) wide.  Leaves pinnately compound, 5-9 leaflets, glossy.  Flowers are bright yellow (February).  Fruit grayish blue (late May).  Plants have been successfully cultivated at several botanic gardens in California.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8?     Native to three California Channel Islands, now only present on Santa Cruz Island.  Considered and endangered plant, it has been propagated by several California botanical gardens.  The selection 'Shnilemoon' has been distributed by the U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum.
  • pinnata: featherlike, having leaflet arranged on either side of a common stalk (pinnately compound leaf);    insularis: pertaining to islands, growing on an island.
  • Santa Cruz, California: U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum
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  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • leaf

    leaf