Native to mainland China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang), Japan, and Taiwan.
This evergreen shrub begins to flower in late winter through early spring. Several spikes of yellow, fragrant flowers grow from the branch tips. Each flower is about ¼ in. across. The flowers are pollinated by insects.
Stiff, upright, un-branched stems grow from the base of the plant and the leaves are held horizontally. Each leaflet resembles a holly leaf with several sharp points. Leaflets may be yellowgreen or reddish depending on soil chemistry. The leaf petiole is often red in color. The entire leaf grows to be 6 - 12 inches long.
Clusters of fruits start out green and mature to deep blue. The fruits are covered with a waxy coating giving the fruit a powdery blue appearance. Fruits are rapidly eaten by birds. The bark on mature plants is light grey and becomes deeply furrowed. The inner bark is yellow.
Widely cultivated in many countries as an ornamental. Mahonia bealei has reportedly escaped cultivation and become established in the wild in scattered places in the southeastern United States from Arkansas to Florida to Delaware.