Leatherleaf Mahonia has lemon-yellow fragrant flowers in February and March, blue bird-attracting fruit in summer and is evergreen. The upright angular habit adds to its architectural interest all year. Mahonias are in the same family (Berberaceae) as Barberries and Nandinas and share their characteristic deer resistance. In fact, taxonomists now refer to Mahonia bealei as Berberis bealei (Beale's Barberry).