Agarito, Algerita, Agritos, Currant-of-Texas, Wild Currant, Chaparral Berry
Mahonia trifoliolata (Berberis trifoliolata, Mahonia trifoliata)
Plant Habit or Use: medium shrub
Exposure: sun or partial sun
Flower Color: yellow
Blooming Period: spring
Fruit Characteristics: red berry
Height: 6 feet
Width: 6 feet
Plant Character: evergreen
Heat Tolerance: very high
Soil: alkaline
Agarita, or wild Texas current, grows up to 8 feet in the right conditions as an evergreen shrub, though it is usually closer to 3 to 6 feet on average.
It has sharp leaves, similar to holly plants, and bright yellow wood with numerous, fragrant flowers. An early blooming plant, its flowers appear from February to March and are replaced by berries in the summer. Agarita is one of the earliest available nectar sources for bees and butterflies.
