SHRUBS > MAHONIA
IN THIS guidebook
MAHONIA GUIDES
Pruning
Mahonia is an evergreen plant shrub , with spiky dark greenish leaves , cluster of yellow flowers and purple or black berry .
The plant life is late - flowering , think that it will not farm its pretty yellowish blooms until tardy fall and winter .
Mahonia aquifolium
This make it a great choice for adding colour to your garden later in the year , long after most spring and summertime flowering plant have wilt .
There are several species of Mahonia , many of which are wanton to grow in the UK .
It can boom in Lord’s Day or nuance and does well in all soil types , so it ’s an splendid choice for the tricky areas of your garden .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun or Partial Shade
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height2.5 – 4 M
Spread1.5 – 2.5 M
Bloom TimeJanuary – March
PreferredMost Soil Types
MoistureMoist but well drain or well drained
pHAny
The Mahonia genus is part of the Berberidaceae family.1Colin , O. , Hinsinger , D. , & Strijk , J. ( 2021 , January 27).Mahonia lancasteri ( Berberidaceae ) , a novel species uprise from Sichuan ( China ) described from culture . Phytotaxa . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.482.1.5
There are around 70 specie , includingMahonia japonica , and theMahoniaxmediagroup , which includes the pop ‘ Charity ’ and ‘ Winter sun ’ varieties.2Mahonia . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . call up March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/mahonia
All varieties rise to dissimilar sizes – the most popular species in the UK are upright and bushy , and range from 1 - 5 m in tiptop , with a spread of up to 3 m.
However , there are also some varieties which grow low-pitched to the basis at around 30 cm improbable , and which are suitable for use as ground screening .
Mahonia aquifolium
Mahonia by and large bloom in late fall and winter , from November to March .
The flowers are usually yellow , but occasionally red , and appear in bunch up raceme .
They are sometimes odoriferous and can be follow by the yield of purple or blackberries .
Due to their late flowering period , Mahonia is a democratic choice for garden borders , alongside other evergreen plant shrubs such as Rhododendron , or plant such as snowdrops , to provide further winter colour .
prominent variety show , such as Mahonia ‘ Polemonium caeruleum ’ , are also often used as hedges and masking , where their thick and spiky nature makes them particularly effective at keeping out intruders .
They are also seen in public areas , such as on roundabouts .
Another name forMahonia aquifoliumis Oregon grape , which make out from the fact that Oregon take on Mahonia as its DoS flower in 1899 , and that the appearance of Mahonia berries is interchangeable to that of black grapes.3Oregon State symbol . ( n.d . ) . Oregon Encyclopedia . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_state_symbols/#.ZBmm3uzP30o
Habitat & Growing Conditions
Mahonia ’s natural habitat includes North America and Central America , as well as Asia and the Himalayas.4Teeling , C. ( 2022 ) . Mahonia aquifolium ( Oregongrape).CABI Compendium.https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.32269
It is often find growing in forest and woodland edge placement , which is the reason it thrives in full and fond shade .
The plant life is hardy , and can survive temperature down to -15 ° ascorbic acid .
It has a downcast nutrient requisite , which intend it grows in all types and pHs of filth , and although it prefers moist , well - drained soil , it can survive menstruation of drouth .
“ I receive Mahonia a useful bush for under the outer canopy of trees due to their margin of dry shady condition , ” tell Master Horticulturist Dan Ori .
“ I like to plant other yellow flowering plants nearby that tolerate the same conditions and overlap the inflorescence period likeJasminum nudiflorum(winter jasmine ) andNarcissus‘Rijnveld ’s Early Sensation ’ ( former daffodil ) . ”
How To Grow Mahonia
you could corrupt the most popular varieties of Mahonia in garden center in the UK , or from online retail merchant .
The assortment that are most widely uncommitted includeM. japonica , M.xmedia‘Charity’,M.xmedia‘Winter sun ’ andM. aquifolium .
These will usually be usable to purchase in pots , as plants of around 50 curium magniloquent .
Other varieties that are uncommitted in the UK , but less wide so , includeM.eurybracteata‘Soft Caress ’ , which grows to a height of 1 m – andM.nitens‘Cabaret ’ , which produces strange orange - cerise flower but is not as hardy .
The best sentence to engraft a Mahonia is generally considered to be bounce or autumn , when the weather is neither too hot nor too moth-eaten .
When planting , you should first soak the root ball in water for half an hour , to see it is dampish .
tally a small blood , Pisces and bone meal upon planting , to boost new root ontogeny .
To plant your Mahonia , you should grind a hole twice the sizing of the origin orb .
It ’s not a sound theme to plant the root ironical , so soak the etymon in a bucketful of water for 30 minute prior to plant .
You will take to make certain your Mahonia industrial plant has enough distance around it to produce , as they do not do well in crowded conditions .
Exactly how much is require depends on the variety and the size of its ultimate spread .
Place the plant in the hole , fill it in with compost , and feed with blood , Pisces and off-white repast ( avoid gamy - nitrogen plant foods ) .
water system upon planting , and frequently whilst produce , although do not allow the dry land to become waterlogged .
Once established , the plant will require very little watering , and you should only require to irrigate it during extremely hot , dry periods .
Plant Care
Mahonia is a hardy flora and is therefore comparatively easy to look after .
It can develop in full sun , but it opt partial shade or even full shade .
Unlike many plants , it can thrive in an exposed location , providing it is n’t subjected to immobilize wind – so you may position it almost anywhere in your garden .
It is n’t too fussy about soil type either and can grow well in sand , clay , chalk or loamy soil , and all pH scale .
The dirt should be kept moist , but well - drained .
Mahonia can withstand temperatures down to -15 ° C , but it is still a good idea to mulch the grunge before wintertime ( around September time ) , to serve protect the roots from frost .
Propagation
If you recognize someone with an existing Mahonia , another way to acquire unexampled plants is through propagation .
The best time to broadcast Mahonia is usually in previous summertime or other fall , prior to inflorescence .
you’re able to do this easily by taking semi - advanced cuttings from the plant .
ready for extension by pruning severely in spring , to insure plenitude of new growth .
When it come to making your cutting , choose healthy , horizontal shoot from the current season , with unforesightful gaps between the leave .
Use sharp secateurs to make cut of some 15 cm , just below the leaf node .
Propagate in the morning , to prevent droop .
Once you ’ve taken the slip , keep it cool , and point to plant it within 12 minute .
Dip the fundament of the cutting in rooting hormone powder , and flora in pots filled with a mix of potting compost and sharp Baroness Dudevant .
locate in a glasshouse or overlay with plastic indoors to keep affectionate .
Keep the soil moist , but well - drain , and regularly murder any dead textile , to prevent mould .
Common Problems
There are not many diseases and plague common to the Mahonia plant .
One possible problem to watch out for is powdery mildew , which will cause brown place and a grey powdery fungus to acquire on the undersurface of leaves .
assist to avoid this by watering the soil , not the leaf of your bush , and keeping it in a sunny location .
If it develops anyway , you’re able to handle it with a fungicide .
Another potential problem to see out for is rust .
This is more common in sure varieties , includingM. aquifolium .
Rust will demonstrate itself as cryptic reddened , brown and black pustules on your plant , particularly on the low leaf surface , which can tighten your industrial plant ’s vigour .
Help to prevent rust by remove all bushed leaves and stuff after the rise period of time and lop dense branches to guarantee air can pass on through your plant .
If get too soon , you could undertake it by removing the affected parting as soon as they appear – if not , you may need to apply a antifungal .
The main problem commonly find by growers of Mahonia is that the base of the plant becomes ‘ leggy ’ ( bare and woody ) , whilst the leaf is concentrate at the top .
If your Mahonia becomes tall-growing , prune several limb completely to allow more light to get at the base , and prune any branch with leaves at the ending back to around 30 cm .
Remove several offshoot entirely , to allow more light to reach the foundation of the plant .
This should encourage new leafage increment .
