PLANT OF THE MONTH: Texas Barberry
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Mahonia swaseyi
FAMILY: Berberidaceae
Other common names: Texas Mahonia
Type: Evergreen shrub.
Natural Habitat: Endemic to the Edwards Plateau region; mostly found in the eastern and southern Hill
Country region along limestone ridges and canyons on open flats or around and under large trees.
Growth: Height 3-5 feet.
Deer Resistance: Resistant but tender new growth may be browsed by deer.
Wildlife: Flowers attract butterflies and native bees. Birds love the berries.
Light Tolerance: Full sun or partial sun.
Flowers: Small (1/4”), fragrant yellow flowers in April – May.
Fruit: Orange or red berries with many small seeds.
Leaves: 5-9 leaflets with sharp points along the leaf edges, reds to purples color in the fall and winter.
Water Requirements: Low; heat and drought tolerant.
Soil Requirements: Well-drained; alkaline, sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS: Space plants 3 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the
same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant
from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is
root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root
ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball.
Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 2-3 inches of mulch over the bare soil around,
but not touching the base of the plant.
WATERING INSTRUCTIONS: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days,
as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at
the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the
first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be
necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and
thereafter: Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
OPERATION NICE! TIP: Texas barberry is an uncommon species of barberry and related to agarita (M.
trifoliolata). It is an excellent xeriscape shrub; drought and mildew resistant and should be used instead
of the exotic Burford holly. The Texas barberry has fragrant flowers in the spring and red and purple
leaves in the fall and winter; provides nectar for butterflies and bees, and berries for birds. Native plant
diversity in the landscape encourages a healthy, sustaining habitat for wildlife.
Care Instructions are provided by the Native Plant Society of Texas- Boerne Chapter. Our meetings begin at
7:00 pm on the first Tuesday, September-June at the Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium. Our meetings are free
and open to the public and include social time starting at 6:30 pm. Please visit our website
www.npsot.org/boerne for other suggested NICE! Plants of the Month.