mahonia

American  

[muh-hoh-nee-uh] / məˈhoʊ ni ə /

noun

1. any of various evergreen shrubs belonging to the genus Mahonia, of the barberry family, including the Oregon grape.

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mahonia British  

/ məˈhəʊnɪə /

noun

1. any evergreen berberidaceous shrub of the Asian and American genus Mahonia, esp M. aquifolium: cultivated for their ornamental spiny divided leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers

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Etymology

Origin of mahonia

< New Latin (1818), after Bernard Mc Mahon (c1775–1816), U.S. botanist, born in Ireland; see -ia

Example Sentences

Imagine yourself having cocoa by the fire pit or under a heated arbor, watching a hummingbird nuzzle a mahonia, while wrapped in a tapestry of evergreen color, peeling bark and intoxicatingly scented flowers.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2021

The mahonia is a spiny evergreen shrub, hollylike, that usually blooms in February and March.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2021

Small yellow flowers on tall, shade-loving farfugium and Winter Sun mahonia shine as the only fall flowers here.

From Washington Post • Sep. 19, 2017

The mahonia makes a low, loose hedge or edging in locations where it will thrive.

From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)

The panicles of mahonia bloom were showing their gold color.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene