The shiny, shapely leaves of this beautiful shrub will add texture to your Southern garden.
Southern Living/Evgeniya Vlasova
Key Takeaways
The eye-catching, easy-to-grow mahonia shrubs (Mahoniaspp.
remind many people of holly (Ilex), though they’re closely related to barberry (Berberis).
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Handsome, spiny leaves are divided into leaflets that change colors with the seasons.
Inlate winteror spring, showy yellow flowers bloom from dense, rounded, or spike-like clusters.
Blooms are followed by berrylike blue, blue-black, or red fruit that attracts birds.
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Plant as a single, eye-catching plant or amass multiples in a shrub bed.
Plant them when the temperatures are mild, in fall or spring.
They are steady growers, but the growth rate depends on the variety.
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Some varieties are considered invasive.
Plant Attributes
Mahonia Care
Mahonia is alow-maintenance plantwith few care requirements.
Provide well-drained soil and filtered light during the hottest part of the day.
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Add rich organic matter to the soil when planting.
Once the plant is in the ground, mulch its base.
Water regularly the first year to establish growth.
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Mahonia needs an occasional pruning to reshape or remove woody canes.
It is both pest- and deer-resistant.
Prune to reduce size or leggy growth, cutting selected stems to the ground or to a node.
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Avoid planting too close to walkways and sitting areas, where prickly foliage might snag passersby.
Mahonia is generally pest-free.
Turn the soil 8 to 10 inches deep.
Water
Watering your new mahonia planting in the first year is important as it becomes established.
Water deeply when needed.
Mulching around the base of the plant will help it retain water.
Fertilizer
Mahonia doesn’t require much fertilizer to thrive.
Feed established plantings during spring with a slow-release,balanced fertilizerlike an 8-8-8. bealei, or leatherleaf mahonia.
It will grow best with some shade in the Lower South and with wind protection.
Flowers grow in 2- to 3-inch clusters along stems followed by edible, bluish-black fruit with a powdery coating.
Control mahonias shape by pruning woody stems that jut out, cutting them back to the ground.
It requires acidic soil and regular water to establish.
Mahonia grows in the Upper South, Middle South, and Lower South, Zones 5-8.
The leaves are about a foot long with fragrant, spiky floral clusters in the early spring.
It takes sun in US and MS Zones, but plant in part shade in other zones.
Other Types Of Mahonia
Pruning
Pruning is a good way to shape your mahonia.
In spring after the last frost,lightly prunemahonia to encourage new growth.
Prune back branches that appear overcrowded or stems that have become leggy.
Aim to remove about a third of old canes to encourage new ones to grow.
Fill the pot with a soil mix that is well-draining.
Gently loosen the roots of the root ball, and set the plant in the container.
Fill in any surrounding space with soil.
Water the soil, and cover it with alayer of mulch.
Overwintering
Mahonia plants are cold hardy and can tolerate temperatures at 0F to 10F.
Bring potted mahonia indoors during winter, before the first frost.
Give them indirect light and water as needed, and maintain moderate humidity.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Pests and diseases are not common problems for mahonias.
They are rather pest-resistant, though they can be affected by powdery mildew and rust.
Spots on the leaves may indicate rust.
To prevent, water the plant at the base and keep water off of foliage.
If spots do occur, remove any infected foliage and treat with fungicide.
Signs of powdery mildew include curling or dropping leaves and a white or gray powdery substance on the leaves.
Remove any infected leaves and treat with fungicide.
How To Get Mahonia To Bloom
Mahonia doesn’t typically need help blooming.
Mahonia may produce less flowers if they are pruned too late in the season as well.
Leaves may also turn yellow when the sun exposure is too high.
Check the plants environment and make changes as needed to give it more shade or water.
Remove anyyellowing leavesso the plant can redirect its energy into growing new leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
WhileB.
aquifoliumis native to North America, some types of mahonia are invasive in the southeast.
Native alternatives include American holly, American beautyberry, and Winterberry.
Some types of mahonia will live for 20 years with proper care.
Give it rich, well-draining soil, shade from afternoon sun, and water during dry spells.
Mahonia attracts avariety of pollinatorsto the garden.
Bees are drawn to the flowers for their pollen and nectar, while birds enjoy eating the berries.
Invasive Plant Atlas.Leatherleaf Mahonia.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension.Berberis aquifolium.
North Carolina Cooperative State Extension.Berberis bealei.
North Carolina Cooperative State Extension.Berberis gracilis.
