Randy's Plant Pick: Mahonia

My February Plant Pick is Mahonia! It is blooming right now!

Once pollinated, they have grape-like clusters of fruit that birds love. I love the fragrant yellow flowers and so do my bees.

Mahonia species is an evergreen shrub with pinnate compound leaves which typically grows in a multi-stemmed clump to 4-10’ tall but occasionally taller. It has leathery, pinnate-compound, holly-like leaves (to 12-18" long) grow in horizontal tiers. Each leaf has 5-8 pairs of narrow, stiff, spiny-toothed, oblong to lance-shaped, dark green leaflets (to 4" long) with a broad terminal leaflet extending to as much as 8” long. It has no serious disease or insect problems.

Plant in a part shade to full shade area. The soil should be moist and well drained.

I am aware of 4 varieties on the market:

• Mahonia bealei (leatherleaf mahonia)
• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Holly-Grape)
• Mahonia pinnata (Cluster Mahonia – this will tolerate more sun)
• Mahonia eurybracteata (Soft Caress)