Texas Barberry
The evergreen shrub, Texas Barberry (Mahonia swaseyi) is endemic to the Texas Hill Country. That means it is limited to growing only in the area of Live Oak/Ashe Juniper savannah of the Edwards Plateau ecoregion. Westcave monitors the location, growth and overall health of each of the 16 individual plants currently found on the Preserve, yearly. It is similar in appearance to the common Agarita (Mahonia trifoliata) shrub but has compound leaves composed of 5-9 leaflets as opposed to 3 leaflets.