Bloomipedia
Leatherleaf mahonia (Berberis bealei)
Photo: Emily Summerbell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Leatherleaf mahonia

Berberis bealei

Leatherleaf mahonia (Berberis bealei) is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–March across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Leatherleaf mahonia is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in January–March.

7states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
16,055U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Maryland. It's on that state' official invasive plant list (Maryland: Prohibited invasive plant (some phase-outs run to 2028)). Please don't plant or share it there. MD prohibited invasive list

Quick look

Berberis bealei, also known as leatherleaf mahonia, Beale's barberry, is a species of evergreen shrub native to mainland China. The species has been regarded as the same species as Berberis japonica, native to Taiwan, but the two differ consistently in certain floral and leaf characters. Both species are widely cultivated in many countries as ornamentals.

  • It belongs to the Berberidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 7 states. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,197 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #50 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,109 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #7 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,354 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #73 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (379 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
North CarolinaIntroducedfew records (31)3,197
GeorgiaIntroducedfew records (32)3,109
VirginiaIntroducedJanuary–March2,354
Tennessee–few records (19)1,884
Maryland–January–March1,619
AlabamaIntroducedfew records (14)961
South Carolina–few records (10)585

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 5 of our 7 states.
See each state
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe has no Tennessee rank for it. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe has no Maryland rank for it. COMAR 08.03.08
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe has no South Carolina rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, leaves, roots, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Ingestion of the toxic parts can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.” They also note: “Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records leatherleaf mahonia in 7 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia; District of Columbia.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Orange.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Clarke.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 8 counties across 5 states; the most are in Alabama (4), District of Columbia (1), Florida (1).

Other Berberis on Bloomipedia (6): Japanese barberry, Agarita, Creeping mahonia, Oregon grape, Cascade oregon-grape, Fremont barberry.

More from the Berberidaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Mayapple, Heavenly bamboo, Twinleaf, White inside-out flower, Vanilla leaf, Early blue cohosh.

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Sources