The plant from which your mother got her name is probably Mahonia trifoliolata (synonym Berberis trifoliolata), most commonly called agarita but sometimes called algerita. This native plant is found throughout most of Texas. It is a shrub 3 to 6 feet high with gray-green leaflets, which are quite spiny. It blooms early in the spring with fragrant yellow blossoms. These blossoms are followed by bright red berries, which are favored foods of birds and other wildlife. These berries are also used by some as the source of a delicious jelly. For more information on this plant visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website: Native Plant Database

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