PlantFiles: Currant-of-Texas, Wild Currant, Chaparral Berry, Agarita, Agrito, Algerita
Mahonia trifoliolata

I got one of these growing now in my desert garden thanks to a bird. I decided to let it grow when I found out what it was.

Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata, synonym: Berberis trifoliolata) is also commonly known as agritos, currant-of-Texas, wild currant and chaparral berry. It is native to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico to the Panhandle and Trans-Pecos areas of Texas, east and south through central and south Texas and into Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. It can be differentiated from Texas mahonia (B. swaseyi) and red barberry (B. haematocarpa) by its having three leaflets joined at a central point (trifoliate). This evergreen shrub slowly grows between 3 to 6 feet tall, which can reach 8 feet when growing in favorable conditions. The rigid, spreading branches often form thickets. It has gray-green to blue-gray, holly-like foliage which has needle-sharp tips. Clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers are followed by red berries from May to July. The fruits are eaten by songbirds and quail and small mammals use the plant for cover. It is considered to be a good honey source as well. It makes a great accent, screen, rock garden, xeriscape or wildscape plant.

I live in west Texas and the algerita are berry-laden this season.

I grew up in West Central Texas where the algerita flourished on rangeland. The orange colored berry makes wonderful filling for pies. One word of caution about picking the berries. The plants produce mature fruit in mid Spring, and birds are attracted to them. Unfortunately, snakes are attracted to the birds. I have seen rattlers coiled beneath algerita bushes in wait for the unwary.

It also makes a fabulous wine...birds also love it, and little cottontails love to hide beneath the protective shelter from predators. My experience with it was in the Texas hill country. When harvesting expect some insects when harvesting the berries. Also, some dry leaves. These may be eliminated by turning a fan on high and blowing them away.

Wonderful carefree plant if you live in a hot/dry area and are sick of cactus. Produces edible fruit that makes good jelly ~ to harvest, lay a sheet under the plant and hold one branch out over the sheet with a stick while tapping/hitting the branch with another. Has thorns on leaves like holly ~ plant in rows along your property line to keep the neighbor kids out of your yard. If you break a limb, the wood inside is a bright, vibrant yellow. I read somewhere that it was used as a dye plant because of this.

Needs good drainage ~ resents wet feet. If watered once a week or so it will be much healthier and more attractive ~ pretty enough that the leaves can be used at Christmastime as a slimmer-leaved, lighter green substitute for holly. If not watered regularly, it will still do fine, but will grow much slower and produce less flowers/fruit. Takes 20 years or so to reach 5 or 6 feet tall and about that wide in the wild ~ half that if cultivated and watered regularly.