This spectacular plant can rarely be found in Russia on personal plots. Meanwhile, holly mahonia differs not only beautiful decor, but also gives tasty and healthy berries, from which jam, wine and medicinal decoctions are made.
This evergreen shrub from the barberry family. The height of the bushes reaches 1.2 meters. Its leaves are similar to those of holly, which is why the plant is called “holly-leaved.” The bushes are distinguished by lush flowering - in the spring, whole caps of bright yellow flowers cover the mahonia. They are then replaced by blue berries, which do not fall for four to five months before the snow falls.
Mahonia was brought to Europe from North America, where, due to the strong aroma and shape of the flowers, it is called the lily of the valley tree. The plant received the name “Mahonia” in honor of the famous botanist McMahon, who first described it.
The Indians made it from mahonia effective medicines. Even difficult-to-treat psoriasis was treated with it. The juice obtained from the berries was used to dye fabrics and leather yellow.
In 1822, mahonia appeared in Europe. Since then, it has been widely used for landscaping lawns and parks.
This spectacular plant changes colors several times throughout the year. In early spring, mahonia blooms yellowish leaves, in summer they become rich green, in autumn - bronze-red, sometimes purple. Bright yellow bunches of flowers give way to blue berries in the fall.
Let's name the most famous varieties of mahonia:
Mahonia - ornamental plant, which will appeal to any gardener. The leaves of an original shape, changing their color every season, fragrant flowers, tasty and beautiful berries will captivate everyone who wants to arrange their own plot. Mahonia looks great in decorative compositions and goes well with many plants. Low-growing shrubs are used as borders and hedges. Mahonia bushes can be used to fill empty spaces in plots and decorate outbuildings.
Care and cultivation of shrubs does not require much effort. Mahonia is not too picky about soil type. Loose, well-drained and slightly acidic soil enriched with humus is best suited for it. It does not tolerate alkaline soils with stagnant moisture. Her favorite composition is turf soil and humus with a small amount of sand.
The plant does not tolerate drafts and bright sunlight, so you need to select slightly darkened areas, protected from the wind.
Mahonia can be planted in industrial areas and along highways, as it is resistant to exhaust gases.
When planting, mahonia seedlings are placed in holes about half a meter deep. The bushes are placed at a distance of one to two meters from each other, since mahonia grows greatly. The root collar is left above the ground. After planting, the soil is compacted and watered.
Plant transplantation can be done up to late autumn, but it's best to do this early spring. Caring for the plant is not difficult. It consists of weeding and applying mineral fertilizers. If the summer is dry, then the plants need to be watered; if it is rainy, they do without watering. For the winter, the soil is mulched and the bushes are covered with spruce branches.
Decorative pruning is done after flowering, and the branches are cut no shorter than half.
The plant does not tolerate stagnant water, so it is watered only once or twice a week in hot summers. A bucket of water is used for one bush. Watering is carried out either from a hose, or under the root, or using a diffuser. Then you need to loosen the soil in order to ensure air flow to the roots and allow excess moisture to evaporate.
Feeding Mahonia produced with Kemira Universal fertilizer. For one square meter Apply from one hundred to one hundred and twenty grams of fertilizer. The first time the plants are fed immediately after the snow has melted, the second time - before flowering in May.
Mahonia tolerates transplantation well at any age. It is better to replant in the spring. If spring is short in your region, heat and drought quickly set in, then replanting should be done in early autumn. The most inappropriate period for this is late autumn.
Mahonia is propagated by cuttings, planting seeds and root shoots. Each method takes a lot of time and requires certain skills.
Cuttings. This is the most popular method of propagating mahonia. Young green shoots are used for cultivation. The material is prepared as follows:
- The cuttings are cut straight from above and obliquely from below.
- The cut is treated with a root stimulator.
- For large sheets, cut off half.
- The cuttings are buried in the ground up to the first bud.
- The plant is watered and covered so that it takes root faster.
- The cuttings are treated with a fungicide to avoid diseases.
Reproduction by layering. It is also often used for new shoots. To do this, strong shoots are bent to the ground and covered with soil, while the upper part of the run should be on top of the soil. At the bend, they tie it with wire, which promotes the formation of roots. The rooting site is regularly watered and, if necessary, covered with soil. If by autumn a good root system has formed, then the shoot can be separated and transplanted to a new location. If the roots are weak, then the cuttings can be left for another year.
Propagation by seeds. This is a rather lengthy method. Before sowing, the seeds collected in the fall are stratified: placed in the refrigerator for three months. You can plant the seeds before winter, then they will stratify naturally. For planting, prepare grooves 1-2 cm deep into which the grains are placed.
There is another way to breed mahonias. In winter, cut branches of the plant, place them in water and place them on a cool windowsill. Soon some will have roots. In spring they can be planted in the ground. Such bushes take root quickly and have good immunity to disease.
Plant diseases and pests
Mahonia is resistant to diseases and pests. Its main diseases are rust, powdery mildew and spotting. To prevent the development of diseases, the bush is sprayed.
Plants are treated against spotting with preparations containing copper, for example, Bordeaux mixture. To prevent powdery mildew, mahonia is sprayed with Fundazol or Callatan. Products containing sulfur help against rust. Leaves with red spots should be removed immediately. This will help prevent further spread of the disease.
Adult plants tolerate frosts down to -20 C. Young mahonias need to be covered with foliage or spruce branches. They are protected from frost for two to three years until the bushes grow.
Combining the beautiful with the useful is the number one task for owners of small garden plots. The happy owners of large gardens face an equally difficult task - to obtain maximum beauty and minimize maintenance. In the list of decorative and at the same time “edible” plants that do not require special care, Holly mahonia occupies the top position.
A favorite of professional landscapers, the transoceanic beauty Mahonia makes you fall in love at first sight - rich green foliage, purple stems, bright fragrant blooms... In addition to being decorative, this plant has medicinal properties and excellent taste characteristics.
Mahonia aquifōlium is an evergreen shrub of the barberry family native to North America. Its habitat extends from Colorado to the coast Pacific Ocean: northern California, Oregon, British Columbia. In each locality it was called differently: mountain grapes, yellow lilac, holly barberry. The plant received its botanical name in 1818, in honor of one of the first American nurserymen, Bernard McMahon - mahonia. The similarity of its hard shiny leaves with the leaves of holly determined the species name - holly.
Mahonia is a slow-growing shrub with a height of 1 to 1.5 m, in warm climatic zones - up to 2 m. The stems, depending on the variety, can be erect or drooping, creeping along the ground. The bark of the shoots changes its color depending on age: young stems are pink-gray, and adult ones are gray, in winter time brownish-gray. The leaves are leathery, shiny, up to 20 cm long, consist of 5–9 sharply serrated ovoid leaflets, each no more than 8 cm. The color of the foliage depends on the season: spring-summer green is replaced by red crimson in autumn and brownish bronze in winter. It is unpretentious, adapts to any growing conditions, and can burn under direct sun.
Holly mahonia blooms from mid-April to early June. The inflorescences consist of multiple yellow flowers collected in branched racemes located at the ends of the shoots. Flowering bushes- this is a mix of aromas, simultaneously reminiscent of the smell of lilac, lily of the valley, honey and chocolate.
The fruits look like mini grapes, hence the name Oregon grape. The berries are oval, not exceeding 1 cm in length and 0.8 cm in volume. Technical maturity occurs in September - the fruits acquire a dark blue color with a bluish bloom and a sweet and sour taste, like barberry. Left to “winter” on the bushes, the berries retain their decorative and culinary properties.
Foliage color varies depending on the season, with spring and summer green giving way to crimson red in autumn and brownish bronze in winter.
The most spectacular varieties of mahonia holly
The listed varieties are most suitable for our climate zone.
Apollo- a widespread variety of mahonia in our country. It grows slowly, at the age of 10 years it does not exceed 0.6 m. The shoots are red, prickly, and droop with age. Blooms profusely in bright orange-yellow from April to May. It is undemanding to soil, does not tolerate prolonged drought, and overwinters without shelter. Suitable for sunny and semi-shaded places, grows well in the shade. Often used as a ground cover plant.
Smaragt– the bush is distinguished by hard, straight shoots no more than 0.7 m high. The foliage is dark green. Blooms in May, yellow inflorescences. The berries are blue-black with a waxy coating.
Separately, it should be noted the little-known species of creeping mahonia Mahonia repens(Lindl.) – it differs from Holly-leaved Mahonia by its bush height of no more than 0.5 m. It grows slowly, blooms from the age of 6 twice a year, in May and September. Fruits abundantly from the age of 8. Frost-resistant.
Mahonia Apollo in a hedge
The species and varieties of Mahonia holly, popular in other countries, do not tolerate our winters well, and using them in landscaping is risky. These are Mayhan Strain, Orange Flame, King's Ransom, Golden Abundance, Mosier.
Agricultural technology
Mahonia holly - unpretentious plant, even a novice gardener will not find it difficult to grow it on his plot, because it:
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undemanding to acidity, feels equally good on fertile, sandy and heavy clay soils;
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suitable for sunny and shady corners of the garden;
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resistant to drought and urban air pollution;
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does not freeze without shelter, withstands frosts down to – 28 °C;
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tolerates transplantation at any age.
Landing. Best time planting is early spring or late autumn, and container-grown plants can be planted painlessly throughout the season.
The planting hole should be 1.5–2 times larger than the size of the container or root ball. A soil mixture consisting of equal amounts of soil, sand and peat is added to it, as well as mineral fertilizer at the rate of 5 g per 1 liter of mixture. The transitional soil layer created in this way accelerates the development of the root system. If planting is done in heavy clay soil, it is necessary to create drainage of at least 15 cm. Water the plant thoroughly and mulch the tree trunk circle. In case of transplanting a plant with a bare root or with a lump of earth, any root formation stimulator should be added to the water: Radifarm, Kornevin, Heterauxin.
Mahonia is a cross-pollinated plant, so for abundant fruiting you need to have at least 2 bushes on the plot.
Care. In the first year after planting, when the root system has not yet fully established itself in the soil and cannot independently obtain water, the plant should be watered at least 1-2 times a week. Adult bushes can be watered once every 2 weeks.
For greater decorativeness, mahonia holly can be fed in spring complex fertilizers or nitroammophoska at the rate of 30–40 g/m2. Autumn potassium-phosphorus fertilizing promotes abundant spring flowering and increases the frost resistance of the plant.
Trimming. Timely trimming ensures the development of a thick, healthy crown, lush flowering and abundant fruiting of the bush. Pruning is done immediately after flowering: in the first year of planting - before the first whorl of leaves, 10–20 cm above ground level, in subsequent years 1–2 whorls higher than the previous one. This formation will allow you to get a beautiful branched plant.
Corrective pruning of an adult plant is carried out as necessary at the end of spring, removing thin and weak shoots close to the ground.
With a rejuvenating haircut, strong shoots are shortened to 30–60 cm, stimulating new shoot formation. Pruning is carried out in late spring, avoiding the risk of damaging young shoots spring frosts. Please note - mahonia blooms on last year's shoots!
Reproduction. Mahonia holly is propagated by seeds, layering, cuttings and, less commonly, by root suckers.
- Seeds, obtained from freshly picked berries, should be sown in the fall in prepared beds - this way they will grow natural stratification and will delight you with friendly shoots in the spring.
- For cuttings July-August is suitable; only young healthy shoots with well-formed leaves are used. The cuttings are cut so that the upper, even cut is located directly above the upper bud, and the lower, oblique cut falls 2–3 cm from the last bud. The blanks processed by Kornevin are placed in a neutral peat substrate so that the top bud is at ground level and transferred to a mini-greenhouse. For root germination, it is necessary to keep the substrate moist, periodically treating it with fungicides. After 1.5–2 months, young seedlings can be transplanted into individual containers for further growth.
- Reproduction by layering carried out in the spring. To do this, adult shoots are bent to the ground, having previously cleared the bark in several places to stimulate root formation, secured with pins and covered with earth. Layers should be watered abundantly in order to obtain a full-fledged seedling in the fall.
Mahonia holly does not produce abundant root shoots, but in old bushes you can sometimes find “extra” shoots. It is carefully separated from the mother liquor and transplanted into a previously prepared hole.
The use of mahonia holly in the landscape and beyond
For landscapers, Mahonia holly is a very plastic material:
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it is planted both in group plantings and as a single architectural plant;
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on rocky hills and on the slopes of natural hills;
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used for creation and as a ground cover bush.
Mahonia gets along with everyone garden plants and serves as an excellent complement to roses, magnolias and camellias. Looks impressive with. In gardens and mixborders, mahonia holly works well as a contrasting plant, in combination with fern, bergenia, etc.
In addition to its decorative appeal, this shrub has valuable medicinal and high nutritional properties. To improve their health, the indigenous people of America use both the aboveground and underground parts of the plant: bitter tea is prepared from the roots to relieve fatigue and increase appetite, and they are used for problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver. Decoctions and infusions of rhizomes are used to gargle for sore throats, to wash wounds and as lotions for skin diseases. It should be remembered because high content in the roots of a strong alkaloid - berberine - indoor application infusions must be strictly dosed. Pregnant women and those suffering from stomach ulcers increased acidity the use of root decoctions is contraindicated. The berries of Mahonia holly are used as a mild laxative, and the flowers are used to make safe cold teas.
Recipe for a medicinal infusion of Mahonia holly flowers
One teaspoon of flowers is poured into 300 ml of boiling water, infused steam bath within 15 minutes. Then leave to cool to room temperature. Take ⅓ glass 3 times a day before meals.
Cooking. North Americans widely use berries and flowers in cooking, adding them to salads and soft drinks, desserts and main dishes. Freshly picked sweet and sour berries are processed into juice, wine, jam, preserved in the form of compotes, and also dried. After freezing, the taste of the berries improves significantly.
Floristics. Mahonia holly is widely used in floristry - the hard leaves, after cutting, remain decorative for a long time, so they are included in flower arrangements. A wreath woven from mahonia leaves is a mandatory New Year's decoration both in America and in European countries - it symbolizes health, longevity, and prosperity.
Mahonia holly is easy to care for, undemanding to soil and place of growth. Its evergreen foliage can revive the most unsightly corners of the garden. By purchasing this shrub for your garden, you are guaranteed to get a bright plant with delicious berries with minimal care.
Mahonia (lat. Mahonia)- a genus of trees and shrubs of the Barberry family, representatives of which grow in the central and eastern regions of Asia and North America. The genus was named in honor of Bernard McMahon, an American gardener of Irish origin, who was involved in the acclimatization of plants brought from the west of the country in the eastern United States. McMahon is also known for having compiled the American garden calendar. There are about 50 species in the genus Mahonia. Type species genus is Mahonia holly, which in its homeland is called “Oregon grape”. It is a shade-tolerant, drought-resistant and highly frost-resistant crop that is undemanding to soil.
- Bloom: in April-May.
- Landing: at any time except late autumn and winter.
- Lighting: bright light or partial shade.
- Soil: loose, fertile, rich in humus.
- Watering: young bushes are watered frequently, adults - only in dry summers, spending 10 liters per plant.
- Feeding: in early spring and before the start of flowering, use solutions of Nitroammofoski or Kemira-universal at the rate of 100 g of fertilizer per 1 m² of tree trunk circle.
- Trimming: for sanitary purposes - in early spring, and the crown is formed after flowering or in the fall, shortening the shoots by no more than half.
- Reproduction: seeds, cuttings and layering.
- Pests: stable.
- Diseases: powdery mildew, rust and spotting - phyllosticosis and stagonosporosis.
Read more about growing mahonia below.
Mahonia shrub - description
Evergreen mahonia is a shrub up to 1 m high, forming abundant root shoots. On young shoots of mahonia the bark is pinkish-gray, on old shoots it is gray-brown. The leaves of Mahonia are on reddish petioles, complex, odd-pinnate, consisting of 5-9 notched-sharp-toothed leaves from 3 to 9 long and 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, leathery, dark green, glossy on top and matte with bottom side. Bright light yellow flowers, sometimes with a lemon tint, reaching 8 mm in diameter, are collected in axillary multi-flowered racemes or panicles. Mahonia berries, oblong-elliptical, bluish-black, densely covered with a bluish bloom and fluff, up to 10 mm long and up to 8 mm wide, have a pleasant sweet and sour taste and are used for tinting wines, as well as in confectionery production. The Mahonia bush blooms in April-May, and its fruits ripen in August or September.
Mahonia in landscape design used to create borders, solo and group plantings, low hedges and for lining tall bushes. In winter, the glossy leaves of Mahonia holly change green to a striking red hue. The shrub is also decorated with blue-violet mahonia fruits with a waxy coating.
Planting mahonia in open ground
When to plant mahonia
IN open ground Mahonia is planted in the spring: before the onset of cold weather, the bush will have time to take root and begin to grow. In general, the plant can be planted at any time of the year, except winter and late autumn.
The mahonia bush grows best in a sunny place protected from strong winds. The plant also feels good in partial shade, but in this case count on big harvest there are no berries. Because straight sun rays The leaves of the plant are easily damaged; the mahonia flower feels best in the lacy penumbra of tall trees.
Mahonia holly is planted in loose, fertile, humus-rich soil. Optimal composition soil mixture for filling the planting hole - turf soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 1:2:1.
How to plant mahonia
Select an area suitable for the plant and dig a hole measuring 50x50x50 cm. If the area is heavy clay soil, dig a hole deeper to place a layer of drainage material in it. Fill the hole halfway with the previously prepared soil mixture of the composition we described and leave it for 2 weeks: during this time, the soil in the hole will settle and become compacted. If you are planting a hedge or border, the distance between plants should be about 1 m; in loose plantings, leave a two-meter distance between the bushes.
On the eve of planting, inspect the root system of the seedlings, cut off diseased or dry roots, shorten too long ones, and treat the cuts with crushed charcoal.
On the day of planting, place the mahonia seedlings in planting pits and fill the free space with the same fertile mixture of sand, humus and turf so that the root collar of the seedlings is slightly above the surface of the area. Compact the soil in the tree trunk circles, make earthen rolls up to 10 cm high around their perimeter and pour 2 buckets of water under each seedling. When the water is absorbed, the tree trunks of the seedlings are mulched.
Mahonia care
How to care for mahonia
Planting and caring for mahonia does not take much time. You will need to water the plant, sometimes in the evenings spray its crown with water, apply fertilizer, loosen the soil in the tree trunk circle and remove weeds. They begin to prune mahonia when it is 10 years old. If necessary, the plant will need to be treated for diseases and pests.
Watering Mahonia
The mahonia plant loves moisture, especially when it is young. Mahonia begins to be watered immediately after planting. Along with moistening the tree trunk, irrigate the developing crown with water. Watering Mahonia better in the evening, after sunset. Mature bushes do not need to be watered during the season with normal rainfall, but during drought it is advisable to moisten the soil under the bushes twice a week, using 10 liters of water for each plant. The day after rain or watering, the soil in the tree trunk circles is loosened to a shallow depth.
Feeding Mahonia
Mahonia is fed twice a season: in early spring and in May, before flowering begins. Mineral complexes Nitroammofosku or Kemiru-universal are used as fertilizer. Consumption – 100 g of fertilizer per m² of area. In the fall, when preparing the garden for winter, mulch the area under the crown with a 5 cm thick layer of compost or humus. In the spring, dig up a layer of mulch with soil.
Mahonia transplant
Mahonia is transplanted throughout the entire growing season. It is not recommended to transplant mahonia only in late autumn, since the plant may not have time to take root in a new place before the cold weather and will die. In general, the transplant does not injure the mahonia and is carried out in the same order as the initial planting.
Mahonia pruning
Sanitary pruning of mahonia is carried out in early spring, before the buds swell, if the need arises: frost-damaged, weak, drying, diseased or broken branches are removed. In order for the bushes to remain low and dense, they are cut after flowering or in the fall, but since flower buds are formed on last year's growths, cut the shoots by no more than half. Old bushes are subjected to rejuvenating pruning, after which mahonia is easily restored.
Mahonia in winter
Growing and caring for mahonia involves preparing the plant for wintering. IN climatic conditions In Ukraine and the central zone, Mahonia normally overwinters simply under the snow, but if a frosty and snowless winter is predicted, the plant is covered with spruce branches. It is advisable to cover young bushes with spruce branches for the winter in any case.
Mahonia propagation
Mahonia propagates by cuttings, seeds and layering.
Reproduction of mahonia by seeds
Mahonia seeds are sown in the ground in the fall, immediately after harvest, to a depth of 2 cm. They can also be sown in the spring, after four months of stratification at a temperature of 0 to 5 ºC. The emerging seedlings must be protected from direct sunlight for the first time.
In the fall, the seedlings are thinned out or planted in separate containers, and after another year and a half they are transplanted to permanent place. During the first two or three winters, the seedlings are covered with spruce branches and covered with snow. Mahonia blooms from seeds in the fourth year.
Propagation of mahonia by cuttings
In early spring, before the buds swell on the mahonia, cuttings with six buds are cut from the shoots of the plant. They are half immersed in water and left in the garden. After two months, the buds of the cuttings, which are in water, will produce roots, and when the length of the roots reaches 7 cm, the cuttings are planted in the ground and each of them is covered with a plastic bottle with a cut off neck. After 10 days, the bottles begin to be removed for a day so that the seedlings gradually get used to the open air.
Reproduction of Mahonia by layering
In the spring, the mahonia shoot is bent to the ground, placed in a groove and pinned, leaving the tip of the shoot above the ground. The furrow is covered with soil. All summer, the cuttings are watered along with the bush. If the rooting of the cuttings is successful, next spring it is separated from the mother plant and transplanted into a pre-prepared hole.
Pests and diseases of Mahonia
Mahonia is extremely resistant to pests and various types of infections, but sometimes it can be affected fungal diseases: powdery mildew, rust and spotting - phyllosticosis and stagonosporosis.
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The evergreen mahonia plant, known since 1818 as the "Oregon grape" or lat. "Mahonia" belongs to the Barberry family. Ornamental shrub with black and blue berries that have beneficial properties and unusual taste, does not require special maintenance conditions and soil fertilization. It tolerates frost and arid climates well and grows in the shade. A tree up to 1.5 meters tall is widely used in landscape design.
Although North America is considered to be the birthplace of Mahonia, representatives of the species can be found in the southern regions of Russia and eastern Asia. It got its name thanks to the work of the Irish-American gardener Bernard McMahon, who helped adapt the broad-leaved, low-growing bushes for further cultivation in the United States, and also published a complete book of gardening.
A close relative of barberry grows everywhere from Colombia to California, in the northern Caucasus, the Baltic states and Ukraine.
The popular holly mahonia or Mahonia aquifolium is not sensitive to low temperatures. It freezes only in severe frost conditions with poor coverage of the root part.
Oregon grapes enjoy nutritious, fresh soil but can tolerate soil compaction in dry areas. In its natural habitat, it prefers mountain slopes, forest thickets, moist soil and the shady side of areas.
Young leaves are leathery and have a reddish tint. In summer they turn dark green with a glossy surface. By late autumn, when access to sunlight is limited, they turn bronze and dark brown. The flowering period coincides with last days April, early May. Accompanied by the appearance of edible bluish-black berries, the size of which does not exceed 8 mm. A bluish coating forms on ripe fruits in September.
Types and varieties
There are about 50 unique specimens of a small ornamental shrub.
For example, mahonia holly(lat. mahonia aquifolium) is a perennial evergreen family Barberry. The shrub has acclimatized to the warm, changeable weather of America. The gray bark contains sapwood inside, bright yellow wood with growth rings. The leaves with a spiky, jagged edge have a complex structure and stipules can form. During flowering they turn green until olive color. During the ripening period, the fruits turn dark green. In autumn and winter they acquire red-golden or bronze tones, and then change color to dark brown.
mahonia holly
The optimal height of a deciduous shrub is only 1.5 meters. Decorate low growing plant multiple branched shoots. Yellow inflorescences resembling lush panicles in middle lane appear closer to the beginning of May. The flowers have 6 petals and the same number of stamens, arranged in two circles. Re-blooming is possible in October, during the hot “Indian summer”. After 3-4 years the tree begins to bear fruit. Blue-black or gray berries within 8 mm ripen in September. They have a sweet taste with a distinct sourness.
If you are breeding mahonia holly in the northern latitudes of Russia, you must take care in advance to cover the young seedlings for the winter.
The ideal material is dry foliage or spruce branches.
mahonia holly
In the southern regions of Japan and China it grows Japanese mahonia or lat. Mahonia japonica. It is a representative of the Buttercup order, the Barberry family. The evergreen tree was cultivated in Asia and gradually spread to Europe and the USA. Large dimensions up to 4 meters make it possible for single and group planting. Weakly branching shoots allow the plant to be used in decorative landscaping personal plots.
The bark is covered with cracks, equipped with a cork layer, and has gray shade. Young wood retains a bluish color. The apical buds with elongated dark green and oval scales reach 5 cm. Dense elastic leaves 30-45 cm long have the shape of an arc, bent downwards. During the ripening period, the fruits change color to red-purple.
Flowering in May-June is accompanied by the appearance of pale yellow petals, which are collected in buds with a diameter of 6 mm, and a pleasant aroma reminiscent of lily of the valley. With the arrival of September, blue oblong berries with a matte surface are visualized. The fruits are small, up to 8 mm in volume.
Japanese mahonia
Mahonia holly "Apollo" was developed by Dutch scientists in 1973. Received the name Mahonia aquifolium Apollo. The barberry shrub is a slow-growing evergreen garden crop. Forms an ideal ground cover due to its compact crown. Requires moisture maintenance, loves humus-rich soil and sunlight. During the dry season, watering can be done twice a week. For one bush, 10 liters of water is enough.
Despite the fact that the plant reaches only 0.6 meters, this disadvantage is compensated by intense May flowering. You can enjoy the fragrant chocolate aroma of numerous yellow flowers for more than 25-30 days. The rich green leaves, 30 cm long, take on a bronze color at the end of August and turn red-brown in autumn. Sweet and sour berries ripen in early August. Dark blue fruits are up to 1 cm in size. To protect the tree from frost, it should be covered during the first winters.
Mahonia holly "Apollo"
Mahonia media "Charity" or Mahonia media "Charity"- an upright shrub that reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Mature plant has an oval crown with a diameter of 60 cm, numerous shoots. The hard oval leaves are equipped with sharp teeth along the edges. Shiny and green in summer period by autumn they turn burgundy. Yellow flowers, which appear in May, are collected in apical ears. Already at the end of summer the tree bears fruit with blue-black berries. Like all specimens of mahonia, they acquire a bluish tint. The advantage of planting "Charity" is its unpretentiousness. Prefers partial shade and does not require additional soil fertilization. To be on the safe side, with the onset of cold weather you can insulate the bush.
Mahonia media ‘Charity’. Oregon grape
Mahonia creeping known from Canada to New Mexico, California and the northern USA. But the creeping shrub 50 cm tall has not gained wide popularity. Blue-green matte leaves of a round shape have teeth along the edge, united in 3-7 pieces. Flower clusters appear in May, and fruits in September. Black berries with a distinct fluff taste sweetish and sour. Thanks to root growth, the plant acquired the status of a bush. Used for decorative purposes the following types creeping mahonia:
- round-leaved. The shoots consist of 5 separate leaves;
- large-fruited. The size is 1.5 times larger than traditional berries. They are classified as poisonous and dangerous.
Frosts do not affect the plant. Easy to care for. Transplantation does not depend on the age of the bush. You should avoid replacing the soil only in late autumn. If you plant an evergreen tree in dense groups, you must maintain a distance of 1 meter. Particular attention should be paid to the soil. We must not forget the proportions of humus, turf soil and sand, maintain a ratio of 2:1:1. It is necessary to feed in early spring and before flowering. The soil must be constantly loosened, as stunted look doesn't like seals. In clayey areas, it is better to provide drainage, the layer of which should be about 20-25 cm.
For planting, it is better to choose a well-lit place or partial shade. Otherwise, the growth rate will slow down and general view landscape.
In order to pollinate mahonia, it is recommended to place several bushes nearby. This will help speed up the cross-transfer of pollen in the plant and increase the volume of future fruits. If there is no need for berries, this rule can be circumvented. The stimulator for intensive growth and lush forms is sunlight and humus soil. When designing and creating a natural design in a city or an elite suburban area, the shoots are shortened and the crown is trimmed.
Plant care
There is no special effort or difficulty when growing mahonia. A strong root system is able to provide the shrub with a sufficient amount of life-giving moisture and nutrients. Experienced gardeners choose a place for planting that is not exposed to strong winds and direct ultraviolet rays. The plant likes the sun, but partial shade is preferable. Not only is soil too dry and hard, but also soil where water has stagnated has a negative effect on the bushes.
To avoid troubles, in hot climates it is recommended to moisten the soil 2 times a month. One mahonia requires about 12 liters of water. If this is not possible, you can wipe off dust and spray the leaves in the evening.
You regularly need to fight weeds, loosen the soil, mulch the base of the trunk, and drainage.
Representatives of the Barberry family grow well in slightly acidic soil, which must be fertilized.
For the nutrient mixture you will need humus - two parts, purified sand and turf - one part each. Will fit mineral fertilizers. 100 grams is enough for 1 m2.
At the end of autumn or with the onset of the first frosts, we must not forget about mulching, saturating the soil with humus, and special shelter for the garden. Source material dry fallen leaves, branches can serve spruce trees. Protective layer must be at least 5 cm.
Diseases and pests
Infections and insects that attack garden crops can become a real disaster. And even though mahonia is hardy, the bushes are susceptible to some fungal diseases:
The use of effective measures prevention. Every spring and on the eve of cold weather, the soil is treated with 3% iron sulfate, fed with phosphorus-potassium and nitrogen fertilizers, sprayed with a 3-5% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Planting and propagation
In order not to injure young seedlings or preserve the integrity of adult plants, it is better to plant in early spring, before the process of sap flow begins. Replanting Mahonia at any age is painless, so moving the bush to a new place in the garden will not cause much trouble. The only condition is warm time year and the absence of upcoming frosts. In autumn, most trees may perceive the procedure as a disease. You have to be careful. Let's look at how it's done correct landing and caring for the mahonia plant:
- prepare a hole. The depth of the hole should be about 50-60 cm, the width should be 3 times the volume of the rhizome; take care of fertilizer. Place a solution from a bucket of humus at the bottom, garden soil, sand; install the seedling vertically, straighten the roots; cover the lower part of the bush with soil, compact the soil for stability;
- Make sure that the ground level matches the previous one. Determine the expected elevation based on the remaining soil on the root collar. You can retreat 2-3 cm lower;
- organize drainage in the presence of melt or accumulation of rainwater. Before planting, crushed stone or crushed brick is placed at the bottom of the hole. The length of the layer is no more than 10 cm. Otherwise, the root may rot;
- After planting, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the plant. It is important to loosen the soil, eliminate compactions and cracks, and treat the area with humus upon completion of watering. If there is a lack of moisture, repeat the manipulations.
Group plantings require compliance with rules. The distance between hedge elements should be over 1 meter so that the bushes do not interfere with each other. If the trees stand separately, an arbitrary interval is selected.
We offer four ways to propagate mahonia:
- seeds;
- layering;
- cuttings;
- dividing the bush.
Seeds
Each method has its own characteristics. For example, buy seeds in the fall. It is during this period that they can be sown in open ground. It is worth loosening the ground in advance, digging small holes up to 2 cm deep. If planting is planned in the spring, the seeds undergo stratification. It lasts 4 months at a temperature of 0-5C. Emerging young seedlings must be protected from bright sunlight. By autumn, the shoots are distributed into separate containers, where they will continue to grow and get stronger for another year. Garden crops planted on the site protect from cold for 2-3 winters in a row. For this purpose, spruce branches, dry branches and leaves are used. The first flowering begins after 4 years.
Cuttings
Mahonia cuttings are similar to grape propagation. Manipulations are carried out in the spring. Parts of the plant that already have more than 6 buds are selected for separation. Without preliminary preparation cuttings are planted directly into the soil. Preferably in partial shade. Some gardeners use plastic bottles to preserve seedlings.
The main thing is daily watering.
The appearance of new shoots indicates that the bush has taken root and its root system is fully growing. This is how you can practice at home vegetative way Mahonia propagation. If the seedling has taken root and shoots, it is planted in open ground. Be sure to watch the soil. If necessary, it should be loosened and watered. On the eve of frost, the bushes are covered with branches, dry leaves, and hilled. When snow falls, a high snowdrift is placed around the tree to retain heat.
By layering
The easiest way to increase garden plantings is propagation by layering. The basis of division is the usual contact of a fixed branch with the ground, which results in the formation of roots. To use this method, you need to prepare the hole in advance, clear the shoot of leaves and fix it in the soil.
From the moment an independent root system is formed until the shoot is separated, you should wait until spring.
Rising temperatures will promote growth young tree. The seedling must be carefully cut off from the mother part and transplanted to a permanent place.
Dividing the bush
The method of dividing a mahonia bush is rarely found in gardening practice. To perform a labor-intensive procedure, an adult tree must be dug up before sap flow begins, the part with young shoots and roots is disconnected, planted and covered with earth. High probability of damage perennial crop makes this method unpopular.
Application in medicine
Back in 2009, the Department of State Control medicines a decision was made to assign registration number homeopathic remedy trade name Mahonia holly tincture substance. Widely used as a certified premium dietary supplement. The bark and rhizomes of Oregon grapes are rich in tannins, acids, vitamin C and alkaloids.
Of particular importance is berberine, which has a strong choleretic and antispasmodic effect.
The substance is prescribed for chronic diseases of the duodenum, liver, peptic ulcer stomach, weakens the manifestations of hepatitis and cholecystitis.
From berries rich in manganese, zinc, sodium and copper, in folk medicine decoctions are prepared for disorders of the digestive system such as dysbiosis, constipation and hemorrhoids. Tinctures are effectively used to combat dermatological problems. Liquid products eliminate rashes of various origins, treat psoriasis, vitamin deficiency, herpes, and eczema. The fruits are added to drinks in North America. The juice gives the wines a ruby red color.
Mahonia has beneficial tonic and antibacterial properties in the form of medicinal tea, which quickly relieves fatigue, helps against colds and flu.
In addition, regular use of herbal tincture ensures restoration of the body after chemotherapy, prevents the development of cancer cells, and enhances bone marrow activity. The tannin in the decoction is a strong antioxidant, so Oregon grapes are recommended to be used to improve lymphatic blood flow, normalize blood circulation, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and prevent thrombosis.
A drink made from dried flowers helps overcome gout. Prepared from a teaspoon of dry composition and 1.5 cups of boiling water. After the product has cooled, it should be strained. The finished decoction is divided into three parts and taken orally in the morning, afternoon and evening.
As maintenance therapy for gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, brew tea. Pour a glass of boiling water over the crushed roots or bark and bring to a boil in a steam bath. After 15 minutes, cool, filter through a piece of gauze and drink.
Alcohol tincture of mahonia saves from rheumatism, heals liver and kidney diseases, and restores metabolism.
If you take 10 grams of dry twigs or the root part of a bush, pour in 100 grams of vodka and let it brew well for a week, after a month you can feel improvements in the body’s functioning. Daily norm– 5-15 drops.
Contraindications
Not only useful medicinal properties, but the Mahonia holly plant also has serious contraindications.
It is strictly forbidden to use drugs and homeopathic remedies based on the bush for pregnant women and women during breastfeeding, people with cholelithiasis, chronic renal and liver failure.
Individual intolerance to individual components of plant raw materials and allergic reactions are possible.
Application in landscape design
For connoisseurs of short stature evergreen shrubs Holly mahonia is well known. Unusual serrated leaves, elegant yellow inflorescences and dark blue berries create a unique harmony and cozy atmosphere in the garden country house or on a personal plot.
We offer options for how mahonia is used in landscape design:
- looks attractive against the background of stone compositions;
- looks impressive, both alone and in combination with chrysanthemums, heucheras, dicentras, conifers;
- plays the role of a hedge and is located along the perimeter of the lawn;
- decorates the shady part along with ferns, hostas, primroses;
- in the sun it peacefully coexists with azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons.
Professional designers know a lot about elegant compositions and original landscapes. Using mahonia, it is very easy to make a small fairy-tale hill or mountainside with a cascading waterfall.
