Green Guide: <i>Mahonia x media</i>

Mahonia x media Photo courtesy of Plant Publicity HollandWhen a large portion of the garden is dull and dreary, Mahonia × media provides a jolt of color in December. Small, fragrant yellow flowers are clumped together in clusters. Deep green and slightly glossy foliage acts as a nice backdrop to the yellow flowers.

One way to maximize the benefit of this plant is to grow it at the back of borders so when the plants in front die back, the flowers and foliage of the mahonia are clear to see. It needs shade at least in the afternoon to keep its deep green color. Plant in a rich, well-drained soil.

An all-season shrub
Mahonia × media grows up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide with stout unbranched to short-branched stems. Leaves are pinnately divided into about 19 leaflets that have spiny teeth on the edges similar to holly. Each leaf may be up to 24 inches long. Flower racemes are terminal and numerous — up to 20 per cluster — and they are 10-14 inches long. Profuse, blue to black fruit appear in spring and summer. The fruit is reported to be edible raw or cooked.

It’s hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9.

Plants respond to a March application of slow-acting, balanced fertilizer by producing more flowers and deeper green leaves. To produce more basal branches, remove new leaf buds of young plants in early spring for the first two or three years. Watch for leaf rusts and whitefly.

Mahonia is a member of the barberry family, Berberidaceae. Mahonia ×media is a hybrid between two Asian species, Japanese mahonia (Mahonia japonica) and the Burmese grape holly (Mahonia lomariifolia). The genus Mahonia, received its name from botanist Thomas Nuttall in 1818. He gave this name in honor of the 19th century American horticulturist, Bernard McMahon (1775-1816), according to the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Some good companion plants include Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata,’ Stachyurus praecox, Helleborus × hybridus, Carex testacea and Cyclamen coum.

Some cultivars
‘Winter Sun’ was selected by the Slieve Donard Nursery in Northern Ireland.

‘Charity’ has a vase shape and flowers from late November to February.

The flowers of ‘Lionel Fortescue’ are more frost resistant than some other cultivars.

‘Arthur Menzies’ is a seedling that was selected at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.