When does Beale's Barberry bloom?

It typically flowers from February through April, producing upright clusters of small yellow blooms early in the season, often before many other shrubs have leafed out.

What pollinators visit Mahonia bealei?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to its late winter and early spring flowers, using it as an early nectar source when few other plants are in bloom.

How much light and water does this shrub need?

It performs best in part shade with medium, consistently moist soil, but it also tolerates deeper shade and short dry periods once it is established.

Does Mahonia bealei lose its leaves in winter?

No, it is evergreen and keeps its stiff, spiny leaflets throughout the year, which gives shaded garden beds structure and color in winter.

Is Beale's Barberry HOA-friendly?

Beale's Barberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Beale's Barberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Mahonia bealei

Last reviewed: August 2026

Beale's Barberry (Mahonia bealei) is a perennial shrub. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw bees and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

Beale's Barberry (Mahonia bealei) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

48"–96" H × 36"–72" W

Bloom

Feb, Mar, Apr

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Native alternatives to Beale's Barberry

Beale's Barberry is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

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Mahonia bealei is a bold evergreen shrub with large, holly-like compound leaves and fragrant yellow flower clusters in late winter to early spring. The architectural foliage provides year-round structure, followed by blue-black berries that attract birds.

Growing Beale's Barberry

Grow Beale's Barberry in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 48 to 96 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Beale's Barberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Large mature size may exceed HOA plant size restrictions
Spiny leaves can be considered unfriendly for pedestrian areas
Non-native species may not meet native plant requirements

Wildlife value

Early spring blooms provide crucial nectar for bees and beetles when few other plants are flowering. The berries feed various songbirds throughout summer.

Common questions

When does Beale's Barberry bloom?: It typically flowers from February through April, producing upright clusters of small yellow blooms early in the season, often before many other shrubs have leafed out.
What pollinators visit Mahonia bealei?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to its late winter and early spring flowers, using it as an early nectar source when few other plants are in bloom.
How much light and water does this shrub need?: It performs best in part shade with medium, consistently moist soil, but it also tolerates deeper shade and short dry periods once it is established.
Does Mahonia bealei lose its leaves in winter?: No, it is evergreen and keeps its stiff, spiny leaflets throughout the year, which gives shaded garden beds structure and color in winter.
Is Beale's Barberry HOA-friendly?: Beale's Barberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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