Mahonia x media 'Charity'
Garden Plant Information

Name

Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (also called Lily of the valley bush and Oregon grape)

Genus  

Mahonia

Species

x media

Cultivar/variety

'Charity'

General description

Upright evergreen shrub with spiky holly-like leaves, grown for sprays of fragrant yellow flowers that open in autumn and winter. Makes a good architectural shrub and is also effective in a woodland setting, when it brightens dim corners after more short-lived plants have died down. Flowers are attractive to insects, and the berries are eaten by birds.

Season of interest

Scented yellow flowers in winter, leaves all year round.

Key horticultural features

1. Leaves pinnate, very spiky. Usually 9 pairs of shiny, evergreen, opposite leaflets, slightly angled from the stem creating tiered appearance. H: 5m S: 4m

2. Stem brown and woody.

3. Sprays of fragrant yellow flowers open in winter.

4. Blue-black berries follow flowers.

Cultural details

Aspect

Can be grown in sun but does well in shade and under trees.

Soil

Well-drained/light, Dry, Moist.

Hardiness

Fully hardy.

Maintenance

Remove top of stem in May to encourage bushy habit and cut back suckers and any dead wood at the same time. Wear thick gloves as this plant has sharp spikes on the leaves.

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings in autumn and winter. Seeds are fertile and can be grown, but variation will occur.

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