General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 3 to 6 feet (.9-1.8 m)
Plant Spread: 3 to 5 feet (.9-1.5 m)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Alpine Gardening
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Stratify seeds: seeds require a cooling period prior to germination and are best planted in the Fall
Sow in situ
Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Bees

Image
Common names
  • Mexican Barberry
  • Laredo Mahonia
  • Chaparral Berry
  • Barberry
  • Trifoliate Barberry
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Alloberberis trifoliolata
  • Synonym: Berberis trifoliolata
  • Synonym: Odostemon trifoliolatus
  • Synonym: Mahonia trifoliolata
  • Synonym: Berberis trifoliata

Photo Gallery
Location: My Garden
Date: 2019-02-24
Location: back pasture
Date: 2019-04-30
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-03-01
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 5-20-2020
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)
Location: San Marcos, TX
Date: 2019-02-17
Tough and lovely shrub
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-03-10
The blooms have a honey scent.
Location: Austin, Texas
Date: 2022-04-05
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 5-20-2001
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)
Location: Dallas Botanical Garden
Date: Summer, 2004
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2012-02-22
This plants are very hardy and drought tolerant.
Location: San Marcos, TX
Date: 2019-02-17
Location: San Marcos, TX
Date: 2019-02-17
spiky
Location: Plano, TX
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-04-03
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-05-14
Ripe Fruits
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-03-13
Location: Dallas Botanical Garden
Date: Summer, 2004
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)
Location: San Marcos, TX
Date: 2019-02-17
fragrant
Location: Lost Maples Natural Area, Vanderpool, Texas
Date: 2022-04-06
very fragrant
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-03-20
Developing berries at the top left part of the plant.
Location: Central Texas
Date: March 2014
Agarita blooms
Location: Central Texas
Date: 2014-04-18
Location: Las Vegas
Date: May
photo by Stan Shebs
Location: Central Texas
Date: 2014-04-18
Location: Dallas, TX Zone 8a
Date: 2016-04-08
Photo by frostweed
Location: Central Texas
Date: 2016-01-12
Location: Central Texas
Date: 2016-01-12
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: April 14, 2012
Agarita with ripening berries
Location: Dallas, TX Zone 8a
Date: 2016-04-20
This Agarita is now safely planted in the ground
Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: 2012-03-01
A branch showinf flowerd and sharp leaves.
Photo by dave
Location: Las Vegas
Date: May
photo by Stan Shebs
Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: February 2009
Agarita
Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: March 2010
Agarita
Comments:
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Jan 31, 2012 6:50 AM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant. The honey is light amber in color.

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