Algerita, Desert holly
Mahonia trifoliolata
Description
Algerita, sometimes called desert holly, is a hardy, cool-season evergreen shrub. It grows to be 3 to 8 feet tall. Its bark is reddish-brown to gray and has yellow wood.
Each leaf has three stiff, spiny, blue-green leaflets that resemble those of holly. From February to April its yellow, clustered, fragrant, cup-shaped flowers bloom and are followed by bright red berries.
Deer and other herbivores, including cattle, eat the young leaves and the berries are consumed by a wide array of birds and small mammals. It is also used as cover by birds and small mammals.
Habitat
Algerita is found on rocky slopes and pastures and prefers alkaline soils. It is often found growing near live oaks and mesquite.
Images
Plant Characteristics
Flower Color: Yellow
Seed Type: Fruit/Berry
Duration: Perennial
Stem Texture: Hairless/Smooth
Growth Habit: Shrub (Woody)
Leaf Shape
: Simple with Pinnate or Parallel Venation
Season: Cool
Distribution
: 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau, 08 - Rolling Plains, 10 - Trans-Pecos
Distributions
Distribution refers to the ecological region in Texas that a plant has been found. You can also view a clickable map.
Collection: Brush and Weeds
