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Berberis x hortensis is often confused with:
Berberis aquifolium Early spring in a woodland habitat.
Native alternative(s) for Berberis x hortensis:
Berberis canadensis Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Berberis x hortensis 'Winter Sun' Form
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
Smilax smallii Form (Moore County, NC)-Early Fall

Berberis x hortensis

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Mahonia x media
Phonetic Spelling
BER-ber-is hor-TEN-sis
Description

Media Mahonia is an interspecific hybrid shrub. 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.

It does well in a woodland setting or as a specimen plant. Adds winter interest to the garden.  It does not self-seed in the garden the way other members of the genus can.  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.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Arthur Menzies', 'Buckland', 'Charity', 'Hope', 'Winter Sun'
Tags:
#evergreen#winter interest#fall interest#deer resistant#showstopper#blue fruits#bird friendly#winter flowers#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Leaves
Flowers Manuel CC BY 4.0
Form
Form Wendy Cutler CC BY 2.0
Leaves and flowers
Leaves and flowers Wendy Cutler CC BY 2.0
Close up of flower 'Winter Sun'
Close up of flower 'Winter Sun' javier martin Public Domain Mark 1.0
Leaf closeup
Leaf closeup Tobias 67 CC BY-SA 4.0
Fall color
Fall color Lucy Bradley CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Flowers
Flowers Nacho CC BY 2.0
Form and fruit
Form and fruit Nacho CC BY 2.0
Close up of fruit
Close up of fruit Nacho CC BY 2.0
Berberis x hortensis
Flowers (Warren County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Arthur Menzies', 'Buckland', 'Charity', 'Hope', 'Winter Sun'
Tags:
#evergreen#winter interest#fall interest#deer resistant#showstopper#blue fruits#bird friendly#winter flowers#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Bark has insignificant ornamental value
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Fire