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Fortune's Mahonia Berberis fortunei

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Mahonia fortunei
Phonetic Spelling
BER-ber-is for-TOO-nee-eye
Description

This evergreen shrub is one of many in the barberry family. It has multiple stems with the branches remaining full at the bottom and draping over as they grow in height, making it a rounded 3 to 5 foot wide and tall shrub. It can be used in a mass planting or as a single shrub in smaller areas or small gardens. It can be effective in front of tall shrubs with bare lower stems or in front of trees with less bark interest. 

It is moderately drought tolerant although less hardy than other shrubs in the barberry family. This is a shade plant but in some areas it has been grown in a fair amount of sun with partial shade.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spots, rust, and leaf scorch from sun/wind.  Chlorosis on high pH soils; leaves can look burned but stems will regrow leaves next spring.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#specimen#shrub#security plant#spines#border planting#perennial#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#specimen#shrub#security plant#spines#border planting#perennial#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Berberis
    Species:
    fortunei
    Family:
    Berberidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern China and Taiwan
    Edibility:
    Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flower form is called raceme, meaning a stalk with small, tight flowers along the stalk that have no or very short stems of their own. Older blooms are at the base with younger ones further out on the stalk or raceme. Blooms are yellow and appear in late summer into fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Black
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The green leaf is narrow, about 4 to 7 inches long. There is no fall color change and the leaves are not considered showy. The pinnate leaf is a series of leaflets on each side of the stem, the stem of leaflets making up one leaf. In this shrub, the leaflets are alternately placed on each side of the stem. The margins have 5 to 10 or more spiny protrusions in a holly-like form.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Security
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns