{"id":23652,"date":"2021-04-13T12:03:53","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T11:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=23652"},"modified":"2025-03-14T14:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T14:19:14","slug":"identify-mahonia-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahonia (Mahonia Aquifolium) Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Mahonia \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Winter \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-23652 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaves-in-winter-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-shot-of-the-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/13\/identify-mahonia-2\/mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-niice-shot-of-ther-flowers-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2><b>Common Names<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Mahonia, Oregon Grape, Holly -leaved barberry<\/p>\n<h2><b>Botanical Name<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Mahonia Aquifolium<\/p>\n<h2><b>Scientific Classification<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Kingdom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Plantae<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Order<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013<\/span>Rununculaes<\/p>\n<p><b>Family<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Berberidaceae<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Physical Characteristics for Mahonia<\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Leaves<\/b><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;\">Pinnate leaves up to 30cm long, each leaf is made up of spiny leaflets which resemble Holly.<\/p>\n<h2><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-117113\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-leasf-min.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Flowers<\/b><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: -6pt 0pt 20pt 0pt;\">The yellow flowers grow in dense clusters.<\/p>\n<h2><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-117111\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-close-up-of-the-flowers-min.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Fruit<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Spherical, dark blue berries.<\/p>\n<h2><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-117110\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mahonia-shot-of-the-berries-min.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Stem\/Bark<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Brown, grey, corky texture.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Habitat<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Mainly found planted in parks and gardens but it can be found in the wild as an escapee.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Known Hazards\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Mahonia and other plants containing Berberine should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid if you have a over active thyroid gland. High doses cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, nose bleed, skin &amp; eye irritation and kidney infection.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Could be Confused with<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/holly-tree-iilex-aquifolium-identification\" rel=\"nofollow\">Holly (Ilex Aquifolium)<\/a> can look similar but its fruits are orange to red.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Edible Uses<\/b><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\">The berries when ripe are still quite tart but when cooked other sweeter fruits or sugar\/honey make a delicious compote.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\">The flowers raw are nice as a garnish or just eaten on their own.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Notes on Herbal uses<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The plant contains berberine and reportedly has antimicrobial properties.<\/p>\n<p>Mahonia has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat numerous conditions, including psoriasis, stomach issues, heartburn, and low mood.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/b><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\">The inner bark of the larger stems and roots of Oregon grape yield a yellow dye. The berries contain a dye that can be purple, blue, pink, or green depending on the pH of water used.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mahonia \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Winter \/ Edible Common Names Mahonia, Oregon Grape, Holly -leaved barberry Botanical Name Mahonia Aquifolium Scientific Classification Kingdom \u2013 Plantae Order \u2013Rununculaes Family \u2013 Berberidaceae Physical Characteristics for Mahonia Leaves Pinnate leaves up to 30cm long, each leaf is made up of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1778,1780,85,101,86,1776,1777,1779],"tags":[451,2534,102,2535,2533,237,104,238,1659],"class_list":["post-23652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-autumn","category-edible","category-foraging","category-plant-identification","category-plants","category-spring","category-summer","category-winter","tag-edible-flowers","tag-holly-leaved-barberry","tag-mahonia","tag-mahonia-aquifolium","tag-oregon-grape","tag-plant","tag-spring","tag-summer","tag-urban"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23652"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121314,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23652\/revisions\/121314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}