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Native Plant Synoptic Garden
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Lonicera hispidula- A nice summer bloomer of pinkish-purple blossoms followed by red berries.
Not poisonous. A woody vine that can reach heights of 5-20’ in height (Kruckenberg, 1992).
Place in an open sunny site in the “Forested Ridge” or “Valley Bottom” areas.
Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans
Lonicera involucrata- The Black Twinberry is at home in moist forest and stream banks. Yellow
flowers produce black fruit in pairs. Berries are possibly poisonous. Can grow 5-10’. Can grow in
the “Wetland Zone” and “Valley Bottom”. Ethnobotany: Medicinal use of bark. Berries used to
make black dyes.
Mahonia aquifolium- A short or tall shrub growing to a height of 4-10’. Produces large plumes
of yellow flowers in winter followed by blue berries. All cultivars can be placed in the “Forested
Ridge” or “Valley Bottom”, but not placed in too shady of a spot. Ethnobotany: Berries eaten in
low quantities. Bark and roots used to make yellow dyes.
(Photo from: TAMU Herbarium)
‘Apollo’- Low growing type with orange-yellow flowers instead of yellow (Kelly, 1995).
‘Compactum’- A dwarf type. Grows around 24-30”. Nice bronze colors in winter.
‘Compacta John Muir’
‘Eureka’- Bright golden yellow flowers.
‘Golden Abundance’- Very vigorous grower, flowering, and berries.
‘Mayhen strain’- A nice dwarf form that comes true from seed. Leaves are separated
farther apart than usual.
‘Smaragd’- A nice intermediate form with dark emerald green foliage that turns brozypurple
during the winter (Kelly, 1995).
Mahonia nervosa- Nice low growing native that stays evergreen and spreads by under ground
suckers. Grows to a height of 12”-24” (Kruckenberg, 1992). Place in the “Forested Ridge” or
“Valley Bottom”, but not placed in to shady of a spot. Will grow in a shady spot, but tends to
inhibit flowering and fruiting. Ethnobotany: Berries eaten in low quanitities. Bark and roots used
to make yellow dyes.