NATIVE RANGE: East Asia (China)

FIRST FINDING IN SLOVENIA: year unknown

PATHWAYS: ornamental plant, planted in the forest; seeds secondary spread by birds

POSSIBLE TO FIND: year-round

FLOWERING SEASON: February-April

DESCRIPTION: A shrub or small tree with leathery, spined leaves. Each leaf consists of 9-15 leaflets, each of which has 5-9 strong spines along the leaf edge.  

HABITAT: Open forests, in its native range also reported from riverine forests and roadsides, up to an altitude of 2000m.  

STATUS IN SLOVENIA: Locally established in the lower Vipava valley (Panovec forest). At this location, it has increased rapidly but is currently under eradication. 

SIMILAR SPECIES: Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium has smaller, less thick leaves which consist of 5-7 (up to 13) leaflets, each of which has 6-13 small spines along the leaf edge.  The native Holly, Ilex aquifolium has single, undivided leaves. 

SOURCE: Field Guide to Invasive Alien Species in European Forests