- Leatherleaf mahonia
Botanical name: berberis bealei
Beginner friendly?: yes
Average size at maturity: up to 13 ft in height and 8 ft in width
Hardy zone: zones 8 and 9
Foliage color: green/blue, yellow
Growth rate: grows less than a foot per year
Pruning instructions: prune in the winter to maintain desired size and shape
Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings in the spring and summer
Landscape use: hedge, border, screen plant
Light needs: 3-6 hours of sun per day
Special features: dark purple fruits in the summer
Watering instructions: prefers consistently moist soil, can tolerate occasional drought
Fertilizing instructions : use a slow-release tree and shrub plant food once a year in the early spring
Best time to plant: spring or fall
Best type of soil: loam
Companion plants: ferns, hellebores, witch hazel
Toxicity level: toxic for humans and pets when ingested Invasive species: not invasive
