Anyone who loves ornamental shrubs cannot ignore the mahonia. We explain step by step how to plant the lush flowering mahonia.
Mahonia, scientifically known as Mahonia aquifolium, belongs to the barberry family. The pretty small shrub originally comes from North America, is now widespread in Europe and also occurs naturally here. The evergreen shrub with its eye-catching flowers is popular as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks, as mahonia is easy to care for and robust. Since the shrub does not grow too quickly, it is also a good choice for smaller gardens. With its pretty foliage, attractive flowers and small fruits, the plant enriches the garden year. Planting lays the foundation for he althy growth.Mahonia plant description
The mahonia grows upright and dense and can reach a height of almost two meters. The leaves are leathery to the touch and can be up to 30 centimeters long. The pinnate single leaves sit on the leaf spindle. The foliage has a wavy edge and is rich green and glossy on top. The underside is slightly lighter in color. When the leaves sprout, they are often copper-red in color. This coloring can also be found in severe winters. This makes for nice contrasts in the wintry and rather dreary appearing garden.
➔ Note: At first glance, mahonia can be confused with European holly. While mahonia has yellow flowers and bluish fruits, holly has pink flowers and red fruits.
Flowers and Fruits
Mahonia blossoms from March. The yellow flowers are dense and clustered together in several clusters. The yellow bell-shaped flowers exude a pleasant, honey-like scent. Due to the early flowering, many insects will gather in the garden. At this point, the supply of nectar is still quite low.
➔ Tip: Mahonies produce a high honey yield. If you only plant mahonia in your garden, you could look forward to several kilograms of honey.
Fruit ripening begins in August. The bluish berries are about the size of a pea. The berries are edible, ownbut a strong sour taste. Birds prefer the berries as a food source. A dark red juice can be obtained from the berries. Wine is made from mahonia in its original homeland of North America.
➔ Note: The berries are mildly poisonous and can cause stomach upset if consumed in excess.
Distribution of Mahonia
The original range extends from western North America and British Columbia to Oregon. In the US state of Oregon, the mahonia is considered the state flower and is referred to as "Oregon grape". In Europe, the largest plant deposits can be found in France.
Use of mahonia
Mahonia can be found in gardens and parks almost all over the world (in temperate climate zones). There are different types and cultivated forms. In our latitudes, the varieties Smaragd or Apollo are particularly well known. When using mahonia, it should be noted that there are toxins in most parts of the plant. The roots contain various alkaloids and about 1.5% berberine. The berries also contain vitamin C and various minerals. The contained berberine is used medicinally for the treatment of psoriasis or hair dandruff. Natural medicine recommends an extract of mahonia root and bark against skin rashes.
➔ Tip: Wool and cotton can be dyed with the berries, the roots and the bark. The bark and root provide a yellow color, the berries give a blue-violet color.
Plant mahonia - find the right location
Mahonies make little demands on their location. A sheltered location is an advantage. Sunshine should be given, otherwise the plant will probably not flower and its growth performance will lag behind. Partial shade is tolerated, but there should be a few hours of sunshine a day.
Selecting the ideal substrate
The mahonia thrives on any garden soil. The soil should be permeable so that the irrigation water can drain off well and there is no waterlogging. The soil should not be too wet. Dry soils are better tolerated. If the soil is too dry, the location should not be chosen too shady. A neutral to acidic environment is optimal for mahonia. Soil that is too heavy can be loosened up with the help of sand or gravel.
Planting mahonia - Instructions
The mahonia is best planted in spring. As a rule, however, plants set in the ground in autumn are alsogrow well.
- Set Location
- Prepare the ground
- Dig planting hole
- Water plant
- Upgrade soil
- Insert plant
- Close planting hole
- Press the earth well
- Water the plant well
Can you plant mahonia in a bucket?
Because it is a rather slow-growing shrub with low demands, it can also be kept in tubs. However, the maintenance effort is significantly higher. Plants in tubs need regular watering and fertilizing because they only have little substrate available.
What should be considered when planting in a pot?
Location
Choose a sunny to partially shaded location.
Substrate
Conventional potting soil or special potting soil can be used. Heavy soil can be made more permeable with sand, gravel or clay granules.
Watering
Watering is abundant during the growing season. The soil should dry well before the next watering. Waterlogging is not tolerated and can cause the roots to rot.
Fertilizing
The mahonia in the bucket is fertilized between April and September. Liquid fertilizer can be administered at four to eight week intervals.
Overwintering
Mahonia is also hardy in pots. The plant pot can be set up in a shady to semi-shady location. Some water should be given on frost-free days so that the soil does not dry out completely.