Agarita

Mahonia trifoliata, Berberis trifoliata, Berberis trifoliolata var. glauca

Agarita, Agarito, Laredo Mahonia, or Wild Currant is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It is one of the first plants to flower in the early spring. With the wind blowing, you can smell the bright yellow flowers from a distance; the scent resembles a sweet floral honey.

Agarita is a perennial shrub with distinct features of three dark green lobed leaflets with sharp spines at the ends. These features closely resemble a Holly plant. Agarita is evergreen and retains its leaves during the winter. In the spring, clusters of bell-shaped flowers bloom and turn to bright red berries by April, ripening through June.

The species name, trifoliata, means three leaves.

Plant Benefits:

The leaves may have anti-nausea properties.

The berries contain vitamin C and are also great for wildlife; birds and small mammals love the berries!

The roots and stems possess the benefits of being antimicrobial, antiviral, and may be antidiarrheal.

Lastly, the roots and stems are yellow inside! Native Americans and early settlers used this as a natural dye to color baskets, fabric, and leather. The yellow color comes from the compound berberine, which is also bitter and has antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, studies show it has poor intestinal absorption and bioavailability for the gut. To learn more about berberine studies at PubMed, click here.

Preparation:

Raw leaves can be chewed or brewed into a tea for nausea-related issues.

The berries can be made into jam, jelly, or wine. For information on jam or jelly recipes, go here. These berries contain alkaloids, so it’s not recommended to eat a lot of raw berries in one sitting.

A tincture is best made with 40-90% organic alcohol, such as vodka. Cut up the roots into small pieces to increase surface area. Place the roots in a jar and fill with alcohol. Close the lid and store it in a cool place for 4-8 weeks. Agitate the jar by turning it upside down and right side up daily (it’s okay if you miss a few days). After 4-8 weeks, strain the liquid and funnel it into your jar or bottle of choice. Use a couple of droppers (1 ml each) as needed.

Again, the roots or stems make a natural yellow dye! You need to cut up roots and stems into small pieces. We tried this with a knife but it was easier with pruners. It’s not a quick process because the stems are hardy. Ideally, maintain a ratio of 1:1 of plant to fabric by weight. Place the pieces in a boiling pot of water for a couple of hours, then strain and dip in your fabric! Depending on the type of fabric (ex. silk or wool), you may need to add a mordant such as alum sulfate. Do your research if this pertains to you.

Growing and Harvesting:

Agarita can be found at local or native nurseries in Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas. It requires sun and partial shade. Since it grows on rocky slopes and in wooded areas, it needs loamy, clay, rocky, or limestone soil. This is a native plant that thrives in both dry and moist soils. We do not recommend using regular potting soil, as it is best planted directly in the ground. If you cannot plant this at your home, you may prefer to harvest with permission from the land or private landowners.

This plant grows slowly and can spread up to 3-10 feet wide and tall! In our experience, it is highly resistant to deer and is hardy to Zones 7-9.

Roots are best harvested from older plants. Harvesting from a young plant can cause significant damage to its overall strength and health. Dig away the soil surrounding the plant and carefully cut out a portion of the roots.

Stems can be harvested when at least pencil thick. Use caution as the leaves are prickly and may hurt your arms and hands. Use sharp pruners to cut off the stems. You will need to remove the leaves. Remember, the leaves possess medicinal properties as well, so separate the stems and leaves for later use.

Harvesting the berries may seem tricky. Most people prefer to lay a sheet beneath the shrub and hit branches with a stick or another object. If you wish to harvest by hand, please exercise caution with the prickly leaves!

*We are not medical professionals. The information provided in this blog post is for informational and educational purposes only.*