Mystery Shrub/small tree

Yesterday I saw some lovely small trees in a council yard. The leaves were prickly and shaped like a holly leaf but slightly less green. They were in bloom and had a profusion of yellow flowers which were upright and rather conical. Beautiful and stunning! Would anyone be so kind as to tell me the name of this lovely shrub/tree? I definately would like a few in my garden.

Thank you.

.Mahonia ?

Sounds like one of the mahonias to me too 

There are several varieties, some of which are here.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3340387/The-best-mahonias.html

Some of them have a wonderful perfume.

yes sounds like mahonia

Oregon Grape is Mahonia Aquifolium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahonia_aquifolium 

Go to a GC and smell them. Some are better scented than others. Aquifolium has a lovely scent but is unlikely to be used in a council planting, it's not showy enough. Mahonia 'Charity' is often used. 

Thank you everybody. Looks like a trip to the GC to look at the Mahonias. Thanks again. Much obliged.

Anyone know how you can tell the difference between a Mahonia Aquifolium and a Mahonia Japonica? I have one of the two in my back garden (loves part-sun, part shade!).

I'd have to see it Huntertony. Have you a photo. They're very different

I'll try and load one up this week.

I think mahonia japonica is like our mahonia siamensis ; at first light yellow blossom and later the blue grapes (thai holy grape): look

Dovefromabove i just checked your info on that site for mahonia they really are smashing ,japonica and winter sun are on my list ,youv done it again Dov many of em Alan

Right, taken some piccies of my Mahonia something. Anyone know which type this could be? 

Hi Huntertony

Yours is japonica - same as mine. The flowers are very different

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/searchbynameresults?nm=mahonia&op=0

My pic/avatar is of a honey bee basking in the February sunshine 2 years ago on a mahonia leaf

Thanks Chilli Lover. When we had a warm, sunny day last week, we had hundreds of bee's swarming the Mahonia... I should have taken a picture!