It is native to Taiwan, China (Guizhou, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan) and Myanmar, where it occurs at elevations of 600 to 3800 m.[2] It has recently been found naturalized in South Africa.

Leaves are up to 45 cm long, compound with 12-20 pairs of leaflets plus a larger terminal one, dark green above, yellow-green below.

[5][6] Under that name, it was considered to occur only in mainland China, while Mahonia oiwakensis was limited to Taiwan.

[5] Because of differences between the Taiwanese and mainland Chinese plants, Julian Shaw described them as separate subspecies of Mahonia oiwakensis in 2011.

lomariifolia has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.