An evergreen shrub, growing to a height of between 1m to 5m tall, depending on the variety. They have leathery leaves with spiny margins. Some varieties turn lovely autumn colours. The flowers are usually yellow, sometimes in long racemes, upright or arching, and sometimes in clusters, and are followed by deep purply-black berries. Their leaves (and flowers) are useful in flower arranging to give a change of form. They generally prefer full or partial shade, but will tolerate full sun if not allowed to dry out. The spiny leaves can be a bit of a problem when used in arrangements, but this is compensated for by the strong form of the leaves, and the long-lasting qualities. The pictures show Mahonia japonica (top) and Mahonia aquifolium (bottom).