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 panicles of mahonia bloom were showing their gold color.

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

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)