Mahonia

More useful information about Mahonia

It will delight you with its cheerful, yellow, honey-scented, bell-shaped flowers in early spring or - depending on the variety - even in the winter. Later in the year, it is the blue berries that add a wonderful touch of colour to the garden and they are very popular with birds. In the cold season, the leathery, shiny, thorny, serrated leaves change colour to a bright red or yellow and remain on the shrub even during the winter - when hoar-frosty, they create a particularly beautiful appearance. This plant is very robust and adaptable: it is one of the few woody plants that also thrives quite well in the shade; even the root pressure of large shrubs and trees does not bother it. Whether planted in beds, as a structural shrub or in a group planting with other fruit ornamental shrubs, the use is very versatile!

Buy Mahonia - bright yellow flowers and blue fruit

Choose your type in the Lubera® garden shop! Mahonia aquifolium is a classic representative of the genus, which has long proven itself in gardens and parks. These types are excellent garden hybrids and pronounced winter bloomers with light yellow flowers that appear in large, vertical clusters. Here are our variety recommendations:

Mahonia aquifolium, is an original species from western North America. Its numerous yellow, often reddish flowers offer a rich pollen and nectar supply for bees.

With the popular variety 'Apollo', the golden yellow clusters are particularly large. It grows as a broad dwarf shrub and is also very suitable for growing in containers.

‘Winter Sun' is a cross between the Japanese and lomaria-leaved types. It blooms as early as January with yellow, strongly scented flowers that stand on the shrubs like small bouquets.

Things to know

This ornamental shrub is often confused with the European holly, but there is no relationship to it, as it belongs to the barberry family. Mahonia aquifolium originally comes from western North America, where it grows as undergrowth in nutrient-rich and moist soils. In Central Europe, it occurs in many places as a wild plant in forests. Its shiny, elliptical leaves are evergreen and have a thorny tip. The lomaria-leaved and Japanese Mahonia originate from the Asian region.

As a medicinal plant

Traditionally, the Mahonia was a medicinal plant in North America, which was used especially by the Native Americans and was known for its antibiotic effect. Nowadays, however, there are no longer any recommendations for internal use, as some parts of the plant are classified as genetically harmful. Ointments with the bark tincture are still used in the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Suitable location

When you buy one of these plants, you don't have to worry about the location. It thrives in sunny and semi-shady to shady locations. It feels very comfortable in permeable and evenly moist soils (only waterlogging should not occur) and it also tolerates dryness quite well. Slightly acid and lime-poor soils are ideal. The roots are somewhat sensitive to surface compaction - so make sure that the soil is as loose as possible in a generously dimensioned planting hole.

Maintenance

In the first period after planting, you should water regularly, even if the soil is threatening to dry out, this plant is happy to receive water. The occasional addition of compost in the spring is beneficial for growth, but not a must. If the runners spread too much in the garden, you can simply pick them off. During dry and very cold winters, the plant occasionally sheds its leaves. For this reason, you should water it again in autumn.

Pruning

The plant should be pruned regularly in order to prevent it from getting bare. This will also stimulate the branching of the shrub and increase the abundance of flowers. Low-growing varieties should only be carefully pruned after flowering; higher varieties can also be pruned by half. Aged specimens can also get a radical pruning in late winter - which of course affects the flowering abundance in the same year.

If you want to achieve a dense hedge, pruning is rarely necessary - the Mahonia grows rather slowly anyway. However, if you don't want 'wild growth', you should also prune regularly. Cutting into the old wood is also very well tolerated.

Winter protection

Young plants should be protected with leaves and brushwood in the winter as a precaution. Older woody plants are very hardy; they can withstand temperatures down to about -25 °C. However, you should protect evergreen types from the winter sun during frost periods (with fleece) to prevent it from drying out - occasional watering in the winter on frost-free days is also recommended. You can cover the soil with mulch or leaves to keep the moisture longer.

Toxicity and use in the kitchen

Mahonias are slightly toxic. The berries can be eaten raw in small quantities, but consumed in large quantities they can cause diarrhoea. Their roots or bark can lead to clouding of consciousness or kidney irritation.

The ripe fruits are, however, almost alkaloid-free. In the past, wine and spirits were made from the berries. If you love something special, you can also make a delicious jelly from them.