Berberis x hortensis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mahonia x media
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is hor-TEN-sis
- Description
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Media Mahonia is an interspecific hybrid shrub developed in 1951 from parents B. oiwakensis and B. japonica. The plant can be variable in appearance and look more like one parent than the other.
It grows in a wide range of soils but prefers to be evenly moist in well-drained acidic soil. Plant in part shade in an area protected from harsh winds. It is drought-tolerant and its fruit attracts birds.
This plant has very attractive yellow flowers in the winter. The shrub can be pruned to size, but keep in mind that next year's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth.
It does well in a woodland setting or as a specimen plant. Adds winter interest to the garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Arthur Menzies'
- 'Buckland'
Grows to 20 feet tall - 'Charity'
Frond-like leaves, whorled on stems - 'Hope'
Showy yellow flowers from fall through winter
6-8 feet tall - 'Buckland'
- 'Arthur Menzies', 'Buckland', 'Charity', 'Hope', 'Winter Sun'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Arthur Menzies'
- 'Buckland'
Grows to 20 feet tall - 'Charity'
Frond-like leaves, whorled on stems - 'Hope'
Showy yellow flowers from fall through winter
6-8 feet tall - 'Buckland'
- 'Arthur Menzies', 'Buckland', 'Charity', 'Hope', 'Winter Sun'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Mahonia
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fruit raw or cooked
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Australia, Asia, Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruit attracts birds
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Blue/black clusters of grape-like showy fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Description:
- Flowers from February to April with very sweetly scented yellow blooms.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The 10-24 inch long compound leaves have 11-17 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. The fall color is in reds.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Bark has insignificant ornamental value
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
