Mahonia

Family. Berberidaceae.

Origin - where it grows. In its natural habitat it is found in the USA, Mexico and Asia.

Description. Mahonia  or Oregon grape is a multi-stemmed, abundantly branched, dense, evergreen shrub with erect stems.

The shoots are covered with light brown bark.

The leaves are compound - they consist of several pairs of lanceolate, green, very shiny leaves about 7 cm long. Young leaves sometimes have a burgundy tint. The edges of the leaf blades have large denticles topped with small spines.

The flowers are small, bright yellow, collected in large inflorescences - brushes or umbrellas on the tops of the stems, appear in the spring and have a pleasant, tart, honey smell, opening sequentially - from the edge of the umbrella to the center. The flowering period lasts 2 - 3 weeks. At this time, the plant emits a very pleasant aroma.

In late summer - early autumn, clusters of blue, edible, oblong berries, the size of a pea, are formed. The berries are covered with a bluish waxy coating on top. In some species, the foliage turns reddish in the fall.

The root system is deep and powerful.

A distinctive feature of mahonia is that the bush retains its leaves during the winter months, even when grown in open ground. In the fall, the leaves simply change color to golden yellow or burgundy.

The second name - Oregon grape is given for the beautiful, branched, large clusters with blue berries.

Height. Up to 1 m in height, under the most favorable conditions the size reaches 2 - 2.5 m.

The bush develops slowly - the annual growth can be only 10-15 cm.

Planting and care

Keeping in open ground

Bushes aged 1 - 1.5 years are planted in open ground. Planting can be carried out over a long period from spring to autumn, but the most favorable months for planting are spring and summer.

Specimens planted outside at this time will quickly take root and begin to grow.

Do not plant in late autumn - if the bushes do not have time to adapt to the new conditions before winter, then they will surely die.

For planting, prepare a plot of land that is under direct sunlight in the morning and evening, but in light shade during the day.

The place should not have a close occurrence of groundwater and should not be exposed to strong gusts of wind.

For planting, the site is dug up and weeds are removed, planting holes are prepared. A small drainage layer in the form of expanded clay or broken brick can be poured onto the bottom of the holes.

Soils that are poor in nutrients are enriched by adding humus, well-rotted cow or horse manure to the holes. If the soil is too heavy, then a sufficient amount of coarse river sand is poured into it.

When growing mahonia as a hedge, keep a distance of 80 - 100 cm between bushes when planting.

Before planting, carefully inspect the root system, cut off rotten and diseased roots with sharp sterile pruners. After pruning, the cut sites are treated with crushed charcoal or ash for drying and disinfection.

A small layer of soil is poured onto the bottom of the hole so that a hill is formed in its center.

The bush is placed in the center of the hole, on a hill, and the root system is straightened, then sprinkled with earth in a circle and carefully tamped to remove air pockets.

When planting, the seedling is placed in such a way that its root collar after planting is not deepened and is above ground level.

The plantings are carefully and abundantly watered, and the trunk circle is mulched with straw and fallen leaves to slow down the evaporation of moisture and the development of weeds.

In the first months after planting, it is necessary to especially carefully monitor the soil moisture.

Further care will consist of timely watering, loosening the soil, weeding and fertilizing. Try to water in the morning or evening.

Formative pruning begins only when the seedlings are 10 years old - until this point, only sanitary pruning is carried out, during which old and diseased branches are removed.

Pruning is carried out in the spring, primarily removing branches damaged by frost and shortening young shoots that are too long.

In early spring, you will have to protect the branches and leaves from too much sunlight, since the root system is still dormant in the frozen soil, and the spring sun is already active. It is at this time that you can notice how the leaves that have safely survived the winter suddenly turn brown and dry out - they get burned.

A real test for seedlings can be wintering in open ground, although adult bushes can be distinguished by enviable winter hardiness.

If winters pass without severe frosts and with a lot of snow, then you can do without shelter. If there are frosts above -7 - 10 °C in the region, then mahonia should be prepared for winter with the help of shelter.

In autumn, the root system is hilled and sprinkled with fallen leaves, and on top it is additionally covered with spruce branches and sprinkled with fallen snow.

Young specimens are always covered for the winter until they are 4-5 years old.

In spring, the shelter is removed as soon as the snow melts.

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

Mahonia is propagated by fresh seeds sown in spring and by stem cuttings in spring and summer using growth hormones.

1. Cuttings about 10 cm long are separated with a sharp sterile instrument so that there is an oblique cut at the bottom.
2. Young plants are most suitable for cuttings - cuttings taken from adult bushes take less root.
3. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings - it is enough to leave only the top pair in order to reduce moisture loss. New leaves will appear from dormant buds located in the leaf axils.
4. The bases of the cuttings are treated with growth hormones for faster rooting.
5. The cuttings are immersed in the soil to a depth of 3 - 4 cm and covered on top with transparent plastic or glass to maintain optimal humidity. R
6. Such greenhouses are placed in a warm place with bright lighting, but out of direct sunlight. 

The first signs of new growth, which appear within about 2 months, indicate successful rooting.

Cuttings root successfully even in plain water, however, after planting in the ground, the seedlings slow down their development somewhat, as their root system adapts to new living conditions.

Such specimens are planted in the ground when their roots reach a length of 5-7 cm. 

The seeds are large, up to 5 mm long. Before sowing, they must undergo mandatory cool  stratification at a temperature of 0 to 5 ° C for 3 months - they are placed in the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator.

If sowing is carried out in the autumn months, in open ground, then stratification of the seeds will take place naturally.  Sowing should be carried out in such a way that the seedlings do not have time to appear before the onset of winter.

Freshly harvested seeds have the greatest germination rate. 

1. Seed collection is carried out in warm and dry weather, using only fully ripened berries - fruits.
2. The seeds are removed from the berries, washed with running water to remove the pulp and dried in a warm place. 
3. Sowing in a container with loose and nutritious substrate is carried out in the spring. You can also immediately plant them in separate cups.
4. The planting material is covered with a layer of soil 1–2 cm thick and thoroughly moistened with a spray bottle.
5. The container with seedlings is covered with a lid on top to maintain a high level of humidity and placed in a warm place shaded from direct sunlight.
6. With the appearance of the first shoots, the cover is removed.
7. The bushes are planted in separate containers when the first true leaves appear on them.

The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the dive, using a very weak solution of mineral fertilizers.

The first buds on plants obtained from seeds will appear at the age of 4 years.

Also, before sowing, the seeds can be soaked in warm water for several days until they hatch. To do this, planting material is placed in damp gauze or on fabric soaked in moisture.

Growth stimulants can be added to the soaking water.

As soon as sprouts appear from the seeds, they are planted in the ground.

The seed propagation method is suitable only for patient gardeners, since the shrubs develop slowly over a long period of time. 

Adult specimens can be divided during transplantation. The division is carried out in such a way that several bushes are obtained as a result, each of which has its own root system and a well-developed above-ground part.

Sometimes, basal shoots appear at the foot of adult bushes - they can also be separated and planted in different containers.

Mahonia is successfully propagated by air layering.

1. Long branches can be pinned to the ground and lightly covered with substrate on top. The tops of such shoots should be above the soil surface.
2. After some time, roots appear in the leaf nodes, and new growth begins from the axillary buds. Thus, several seedlings can be obtained from one layer at once.
3. The soil around the air layer is always kept moist.
4. The cuttings are separated from the mother plant when they already have their own well-developed root system and above-ground part.
5. When grown in open ground, the cuttings are separated when they are about a year old.

Content, trimming 

Growing at home requires compliance with certain rules of agricultural technology.

Stems that are too long and do not allow the plant to maintain a beautiful compact shape are pruned in the fall, after flowering. Without pruning, the crown will become too spreading, loose, and unsightly.

Remember that flower buds are located on last year's shoots, so too much pruning will affect flowering - it will be less abundant.

When performing formative pruning, remove no more than 1/2 the height of the branches.

Pinching young shoots will promote the formation of lateral branches.

Remove weak and old branches during sanitary pruning. Pruning should only be done with a sharp and sterile tool - a knife or pruning shears.

Old, unkempt bushes can be rejuvenated with very radical pruning, when only stumps 10-15 cm high remain from all shoots.

Proper pruning and crown shaping can even help you grow a small bonsai-style composition from mahonia.

The plant will enjoy being outdoors in the warm season - take it outside or to the balcony, placing it in a shelter from direct sunlight and under protection from gusts of wind and heavy rain.

Transplanting

Transplantation is carried out in the spring, as needed, into larger pots. For large, adult specimens, the transplantation of which is difficult due to their size, the top 7 cm of soil is replaced annually with fresh substrate.

1. For planting, select pots with large drainage holes that will be 2 to 5 cm larger in diameter than the previous container.
2. If the plant looks healthy and has no signs of rot, then instead of replanting, you can use transshipment, transplanting the bush into a new pot together with the old lump of earth, without destroying it. This procedure will be less traumatic for the root system.
3. Before planting, place a good drainage layer in the form of clay shards, river pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom of the pot.
4. Place the bush in the center of the new pot and sprinkle fresh soil around the perimeter.
5. After planting, compact the soil with your fingers and spill with water.
6. Try to place the plant at the same depth as it was in the previous container.

After transplantation, shoots and leaves should be protected from direct sunlight for 7-10 days, and the first feeding should be done only after 3 weeks.

Such measures are due to the fact that fresh soil already contains a sufficient amount of nutrients. Too early feeding can damage the root system.

In general, mahonia easily tolerates transplantation.

Soil 

Nutritious, organic-rich soil with good drainage and an acidic pH, such as a peat-based mixture.

To increase drainage, coarse river sand, perlite or vermiculite are added to the soil.

The soil should easily allow moisture and air to pass to the roots.

Mahonia adapts well to most soil types, but will grow less well in heavy clay or nutrient-poor sandy soils.

When it blooms 

April - mid-May. 

Diseases and pests  

• When exposed to direct sunlight, burns may appear on the leaves.
• Leaf spot and rust, phyllosticosis, sometimes occur.
• Powdery mildew occurs when the conditions are too cool and humid, as well as when there is insufficient air circulation.
• Mahonia does not bloom or bear fruit when grown in partial shade.
• The shrub does not grow in winter - this is normal - it is in a state of rest.

Among insect pests can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies.

Feeding 

Mahonia is fed with mineral water-soluble fertilizers every 2 weeks, only during the growing season.

In the spring, at the beginning of growth, fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are used for the development of green mass, but to form a large number of buds, fertilizing is carried out with fertilizers for flowering plants with a high phosphorus content.

In autumn, the frequency of fertilizing is reduced, and in the winter months, a rest period is provided without applying fertilizers. Resume feeding in the spring, when the first signs of new growth appear.

Mahonia responds positively to both mineral and organic fertilizers, so the greatest effect can be achieved by alternating these fertilizers.

As organic fertilizers, you can use a weak solution of chicken manure, horse or cow manure, as well as humus and humus.

Add the nutrient solution only after abundant watering, into a moist substrate.

Remember that if a too concentrated solution gets on the root system in dry soil, it can cause a burn.

 

Temperature

In spring and summer, the optimal temperature range is from 18 to 24° C. During the winter months, a cool dormant period is required at a temperature of about 5° C. 

If you leave the bush at normal room temperature during the winter months, it will continue to develop, and in low light conditions, it will form weak and thin shoots.

Mahonia can withstand even the most intense heat with increased air humidity and abundant watering.

Lighting

For abundant flowering, 3-4 hours of direct sunlight in the morning and evening every day are required.

Shading is necessary during the day. Grows well in partial shade.

Spraying 

Spray the leaves periodically or place the pot on a tray with damp pebbles. Make sure that the bottom of the pot does not come into direct contact with the surface of the water.

Spray only with softened water, as regular tap water will leave unsightly whitish spots on the leaf blades.

Spray only in the morning so that the drops have time to evaporate from the surface of the leaves before dark.

Make sure that wet leaves are not exposed to sunlight, as the water will act as a lens and the plant will get burned.

You can also use a room humidifier or any container with water placed next to the pot to increase the humidity.

The bushes prefer to be in constantly ventilated rooms with good air circulation, but without exposure to cold drafts.

Watering 

During the growing season, water generously, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out slightly between waterings to a depth of about 5 cm.

In the winter months, with a drop in air temperature, watering is reduced to a minimum, not allowing the soil to dry out completely.

Young seedlings prefer regular and abundant watering, while adult plants tolerate short-term drought.

For watering, use only well-settled water at room temperature. For watering, use filtered, melted or bottled water.

Rainwater can be used for watering, but it should be collected outside the city, where the level of pollution is minimal.

After watering, excess moisture that appears in the tray after watering must be removed.

Purpose

Mahonia is often used to create a beautiful flowering hedge; these attractive bushes fit easily into the interior and will become a good accent in the room.

When grown in open ground, such a hedge will change its appearance throughout the warm season - in the spring it will form beautiful inflorescences with yellow buds, in summer and autumn the bushes will decorate themselves with large clusters of berries, and the leaf blades will turn yellow or reddish. 

Sometimes they are planted in flower beds and flower gardens as borders; during the flowering period, this helps to attract many bees to the garden.

Note

The berries have a slightly sour taste, resemble barberries and are used to make marmalade, compotes, preserves and even wine, as well as for fresh food.

In winemaking, the berries are used as a coloring agent for drinks.

The coloring properties of this flower were noticed by the Indians - they used the bush to dye leather and fabric products.

The content of vitamin C in the berries of mahonia holly allows us to recommend them as an immunomodulatory agent, which can also have a positive effect on the state of the vascular system, changes the composition of the blood for the better, and has a choleretic effect. 

In folk medicine, such above-ground parts of the plant as the bark and roots of the plant are also used. Decoctions of these components improve appetite and help soothe irritated intestines, and have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Antioxidants contained in fruits help fight aging of the body and have a tonic effect. 

Varieties and types:

Mahonia aquifolium

The most common variety in floriculture, which is a low evergreen shrub up to 1 m with a spreading, lush crown with a diameter of up to 1.5 m. The stems of the plants are thin, straight, and branched. The leaves are compound - consist of oblong, spear-shaped segments of green color with a glossy surface. Along the edges of the segments there are large denticles with small spines at the top. During the flowering period, the plants decorate themselves with large, branched racemes with golden flowers. After flowering, in autumn, the foliage acquires a burgundy or reddish tint, and the bushes form bluish, oblong berries. 

Mahonia media Charity

Showy evergreen shrubs with thick, erect stems. The leaves are compound, consisting of numerous pairs of oblong-lanceolate segments. The segments are glossy, green, and equipped with large teeth and spines along the edges. In the summer months, branched, large inflorescences with yellow flowers appear at the tops of the shoots. The berries are oblong, with a waxy bluish coating. 

Mahonia aquifolium Apollo

Squat, strong, spreading shrubs with a dense crown formed by many branched shoots. The leaf blades are green, oblong-oval, with small teeth along the edges. The inflorescences are apical and are rounded umbrellas with golden flowers. 

Mahonia aquifolium atropurpurea

Attractive evergreen shrubs with dark, glossy leaves. The main distinguishing feature of this variety is the leaf blades, which even during the summer are often burgundy, and in the autumn months they turn into bright red shades. 

Mahonia aquifolium var. Smaragd

Compact evergreen shrubs with compound, large, dark green leaves consisting of oblong-oval, coarsely toothed segments arranged in pairs. Young leaf blades are often bronze in color. At the end of spring, large inflorescences with yellow flowers appear on the tops of the shoots. 

Mahonia repens

Shrubs with lodging, creeping stems. The height of the plant often does not exceed 30 cm. Unlike most other species, plants of this species can be used as ground cover. The leaves are compound, leaf segments can be colored green, burgundy or crimson. Lemon-yellow or golden flowers contrast perfectly with the leaves of this plant. At the end of summer, after flowering, sour, oblong, purple berries appear. 

Mahonia bealei

One of the tallest varieties - plants reach 2 m in height. Stems are slightly branched, erect, strong. The leaves are complex, very large - they consist of oppositely located leaf segments. The segments are dark green, glossy, with large teeth along the edges. The inflorescences are branched racemes with numerous golden flowers that emit a pleasant aroma. 

Mahonia fortunei

Spectacular shrubs with a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are compound, long, and composed of dark green, linear segments. The segments have small teeth along the edges. Young leaves are painted in bronze or pink shades. Plants reach a height of 180 cm. In spring, small clusters with yellow flowers form on the tops of the shoots, which may even go unnoticed in the lush foliage. 

Mahonia lomariifolia

An extremely attractive and rarely seen species in gardening, which is an evergreen shrub with erect, slender stems. With age, the stems become bare at the bottom and lose leaves. The leaves are complex, large, and consist of numerous, oblong segments arranged in opposite pairs. The leaf segments are green, with small teeth along the edge, on short petioles. Young leaves are colored pinkish. During the flowering period, plants form large apical clusters with golden flowers, which open sequentially - from the base of the cluster to its top. 

Mahonia eurybracteata

Aerial, evergreen shrubs, characterized by a squat, lush shape. The shoots of these elegant plants are thin and abundantly branched. The leaves are compound, with very long and narrow, bluish-green segments, arranged in pairs, on short petioles. Branched inflorescences with lemon or golden yellow flowers give the plants additional attractiveness.