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.
- 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
