Creeping mahonia is a low-growing, stoloniferous, evergreen shrub or shrublet which typically grows to 1 foot tall and spreads by underground stems to form an attractive ground cover. Features holly-like, odd-pinnate, compound leaves with oval, spiny-toothed, leathery, bluish-green leaflets (usually 3-7). Foliage turns purplish in winter. Deep yellow flowers appear in small racemes (1-3") in spring and are followed by small clusters of grape-like, dark bluish-purple berries (1/4" diameter) which mature in late summer. Berries are very sour but edible and can be used in jellies. Yellow stem wood was used by Native Americans to produce yellow dyes and a bitter tonic.
This low shrub makes a nice evergreen groundcover under trees. It can also be used as part of a foundation planting.
Zones 5 - 8
