Agarita
COMMON NAME: Desert Holly
BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis trifoliolata
PRONUNCIATION: BER-ber-is try-fole-ee-o-LAY-tuh
TYPE: Evergreen
LOCATION: Sun / Shade
HEIGHT: 3-6 feet
SPREAD: 3-6 feet
SPACING: 3 feet
HABIT: Spiny leaves always in threes. Yellow flowers in spring. Red berries in May. Irregular branching pattern which is more open in shade, tighter in full sun. Native to Central and West Texas to Mexico.
CULTURE: Easy to grow in any well-drained soil, drought tolerant.
USES: Evergreen border, boundary, or background plant. Agarita berries are edible and can be made into jam, jelly, wine, or eaten raw. Foraging information.
PROBLEMS: None
Agarita berries. Photo by Julia Gregory, on Flickr (CC By-NC-SA 2.0)