Creeping Mahonia
Mahonia repens
Shrub
Bloom
April — May
Color
Golden Yellow
Height
6—12 inches
Spread
24—36 inches — spreads by rhizome
Sun
Partial shade to full sun (4—6 hours; best with afternoon shade)
Water
Low — drought tolerant once established
Colorado's native creeping holly-grape, and the evergreen groundcover to reach for in dry shade — under pines, on north exposures, anywhere turf sulks. Spiny blue-green holly-like leaves turn purple-bronze through winter, clusters of fragrant golden flowers open in early spring, and powder-blue berries follow in summer. It spreads slowly by rhizome into a durable low mat. Another good replacement for myrtle spurge in older rock gardens.
Growing conditions
- Soil: Well-draining, rocky/loamy
- Sun: Partial shade to full sun (4—6 hours; best with afternoon shade)
- Water: Low — drought tolerant once established
- Drought tolerance: Very good
- Hardiness: Colorado native / adapted · USDA Zones 4–7
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value: High — early nectar for native bees, blue berries for birds
- Landscape use: Evergreen groundcover, dry shade, slopes, under trees, rock gardens, foundation edges.
Want Creeping Mahonia in your yard?
Xeris designs and installs native plant xeriscapes across Denver and the Front Range. We'll walk your site, assess soil and sun, and build a plan that thrives.
Request a free consultation