Flower profile

Leatherleaf mahonia

Berberis bealei

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–December.

7states

7of our state lists

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.
From Wikipedia's article Berberis bealei, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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}
In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–March. ^iNaturalist
In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–March. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,197 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #48 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,109 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #6 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,354 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #71 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (379 records)

Bloom time in each of our 7 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
North Carolina	Introduced	January–March	3,197
Georgia	Introduced	January–March	3,109
Virginia	Introduced	January–December	2,354
Tennessee	–	few records	1,884
Maryland	–	January–December	1,619
Alabama	Introduced	few records	961
South Carolina	–	few records	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
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.

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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.

More North Carolina flowers

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in NC: March–May

Japanese barberry

Berberis thunbergii

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: April–May

Heavenly bamboo

Nandina domestica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NC: May–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MABE2.
iNaturalist, Berberis bealei: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Berberis bealei (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
Alabama: Alabama noxious weeds (Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-14-.04).
South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Berberis bealei (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Emily Summerbell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.