Mahonia aquifolium

This is a very beautiful and useful evergreen shrub. Its upright stems and coarse leaves form an irregular mound. As the bush matures, it sends out additional stems to form a clump. The bluish green leaves are coarse and spiny and resemble holly. The compound leaves are radially arranged at the end of each stem. Bright yellow flowers appear atop the stem in spring (although here in north Florida they bloom in December).