Oregon Grape (mahonia aquifolium)

• Evergreen shrub with glossy, holly-like spiny leaves that turn purplish-bronze in winter for year-round interest.
• Fragrant bright yellow spring flowers attract pollinators.
• Produces edible blue-black berries in summer, enjoyed by birds (can be used for jellies).
• Low-maintenance, tough, and wildlife-friendly; excellent for shade, ground cover, or barriers.

Planting and Care

• Hardiness: Fully hardy tolerates temperatures down to -15°C.
• Site: Prefers partial to full shade; tolerates full sun if soil remains moist; shelter from cold winds.
• Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; adaptable to clay, loam, sand, or chalk; slightly acidic to neutral preferred.
• Planting: bare root plants from November to March; add organic matter to the hole for establishment.
• Maintenance: Drought-tolerant once established; mulch annually; prune after flowering to control spread (suckers freely).
• Height/Spread: Typically 1-1.5m tall and wide.