World Plants

Berberis repens (Creeping Mahonia)

Family	Berberidaceae
Genus	Berberis
Species	repens
Synonyms	Mahonia repens (Name changed to Berberis repens in 2019)
Category	Woody
Type	Shrub (evergreen)
Origin	Western coastal North America.

General Description	An evergreen woody groundcover.
Shape	Low mat-forming.
Landscape	Use as borders, as a container plant, in erosion control, in woodland gardens and general groundcover.
Propagation	Seed, cuttings and division of underground rhizomes.
Cultivation	Plant under partial shade in moist, very well-drained slightly acidic soils.
Pests	Leaf spot, powdery mildew and rust.
Notable Specimens	The A.M. (Mac) Cuddy Garden, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. UBC Botanical Garden, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Habitat	Hills, dry slopes, and canyons. Coniferous forests, oak woodlands and chaparral.
Bark/Stem Description	Young bark is smooth, but develops ridges and furrows as it matures. Young twigs are covered with a waxy coating that appears shiny.
Leaf Description	Leaves are variable, and pinnately compound, with 5 - 7 leaflets 2 - 7 cm long. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, attached by 1 - 6 cm petioles.
Flower Description	Flowers are in branched clusters at the sides or tips of branches. Each flower has 9 sepals produced in 3 tiers and 6 petals produced in 2 tiers of 3 petals.
Fruit Description	Berries are round-to-elliptical, measuring 7 - 14 mm long and are covered with a waxy coating.
Colour Description	Leaves are bluish-green in summer and turn a rich purplish-red in the winter. In midsummer yellow flowers are borne. The flowers develop into purplish-black berries. Bark appears to be green-to-purple in colour.
Texture Description	Coarse.