Mahonia

The Mahonia species includes about 70 evergreen shrubs or small trees. Plants can be sprawling, erect and almost creeping, depending on the type and decorative form. Large leaves are unpaired or, less often, consisting of three leaflets, prickly. In autumn, the foliage often turns purple. Fragrant yellow flowers are collected in apical racemes or panicles. The most common type is Mahonia aquifolium (Mahonia aquifolium). This is a shoot-bearing (abundant growth is formed at the base) tree; the leaves are unpaired, with a wavy toothed edge covered with spines. Dark green and glossy in summer, in winter they turn red with a purple tint. In March-April, the plant blooms with fragrant flowers of intense yellow color, collected in inflorescences-brushes. The fruit is a beautiful and very decorative blue-black berry. There are various forms and varieties. Apollo is a dwarf creeping mahonia with intense yellow flowers. Leaves 'Dark purple' in winter and early spring have a purplish-red coloration. The leaves of the 'Emerald' retain their emerald green color even in winter. Unpaired leaves of Mahonia japonica (M. japonica) consist of dark green leaflets. From late autumn to early spring, fragrant lemon-yellow flowers bloom, collected in long hanging brushes. In M. bealei, the flowers differ from those of Mahonia japonica; the branches are erect and shorter. Mahonia Fortune (M. fortunei) is an erect species; its compound leaves consist of lanceolate linear leaflets. In winter, bright yellow flowers are formed, collected in erect apical racemes. Mahonia lomariifolia (M. lomariifolia) reaches a larger size than other species; it can only be grown in mild climates. Long (up to 60 cm) leaves consist of 15-19 paired leaflets with a serrated prickly edge. In winter, flowers of intense yellow color bloom. A very widespread hybrid derived from Mahonia Japonica and Mahonia lomariifolia - Mahonia x 'Mercy'. It is an erect plant with very long compound leaves consisting of two rows of simple leaflets. In winter, fragrant flowers of intense yellow color bloom, collected in long protruding brushes.

The Mahonia species includes about 70 evergreen shrubs or small trees. Plants can be sprawling, erect and almost creeping, depending on the type and decorative form. Large leaves are unpaired or, less often, consisting of three leaflets, prickly. In autumn, the foliage often turns purple. Fragrant yellow flowers are collected in apical racemes or panicles.

The most common type is Mahonia aquifolium (Mahonia aquifolium). This is a shoot-bearing (abundant growth is formed at the base) tree; the leaves are unpaired, with a wavy toothed edge covered with spines. Dark green and glossy in summer, in winter they turn red with a purple tint. In March-April, the plant blooms with fragrant flowers of intense yellow color, collected in inflorescences-brushes. The fruit is a beautiful and very decorative blue-black berry. There are various forms and varieties. Apollo is a dwarf creeping mahonia with intense yellow flowers. Leaves 'Dark purple' in winter and early spring have a purplish-red coloration. The leaves of the 'Emerald' retain their emerald green color even in winter.

Unpaired leaves of Mahonia japonica (M. japonica) consist of dark green leaflets. From late autumn to early spring, fragrant lemon-yellow flowers bloom, collected in long hanging brushes.

In M. bealei, the flowers differ from those of Mahonia japonica; the branches are erect and shorter.

Mahonia Fortune (M. fortunei) is an erect species; its compound leaves consist of lanceolate linear leaflets. In winter, bright yellow flowers are formed, collected in erect apical racemes.

Mahonia lomariifolia (M. lomariifolia) reaches a larger size than other species; it can only be grown in mild climates. Long (up to 60 cm) leaves consist of 15-19 paired leaflets with a serrated prickly edge. In winter, flowers of intense yellow color bloom.

A very widespread hybrid derived from Mahonia Japonica and Mahonia lomariifolia - Mahonia x 'Mercy'. It is an erect plant with very long compound leaves consisting of two rows of simple leaflets. In winter, fragrant flowers of intense yellow color bloom, collected in long protruding brushes.

Cultivation

Mahonia is grown only outdoors: both in single plantings and in small groups in hedges and flower beds. Creeping species and varieties, such as Mahonia aquifolium 'Apollo', are used as groundcover plants. You can also grow these plants in pots, but in this case, they will develop only to a limited extent. Mahonia in cold climates is planted in the ground in April-May, in other areas - in September-October. Mahonia aquifolium has no special requirements for the soil. Other species, such as Fortune Mahonia and Lomarilifolia Mahonia, require fertile, well-drained soil, which is filled with mineral and organic fertilizers. In April, groundcover species are plucked to stimulate vegetation.

Mahonia is grown only outdoors: both in single plantings and in small groups in hedges and flower beds. Creeping species and varieties, such as Mahonia aquifolium 'Apollo', are used as groundcover plants. You can also grow these plants in pots, but in this case, they will develop only to a limited extent. Mahonia in cold climates is planted in the ground in April-May, in other areas - in September-October.

Mahonia aquifolium has no special requirements for the soil. Other species, such as Fortune Mahonia and Lomarilifolia Mahonia, require fertile, well-drained soil, which is filled with mineral and organic fertilizers. In April, groundcover species are plucked to stimulate vegetation.

Location

Usually, Mahonia can grow both in open sun and in partial shade. Only some species, such as Fremont's Mahonia, require only open sun.

Temperature

Mahonia aquifolium is a stable plant that can be grown outdoors in almost all cold climates. Mahonia Fortune, Mahonia lomariifolia and other species are grown only in the temperate climate zone.

Watering

Mahonia is quite resistant to drought and is particularly afraid of stagnation of water.

Transplant

Potted plants are transplanted into a new container in the spring every year or every other year. Use a larger pot filled with a mixture of fertile soil (2/3) and peat (1/3); the pH of the soil should be 5,5-6, 5.

Potted plants are transplanted into a new container in the spring every year or every other year. Use a larger pot filled with a mixture of fertile soil (2/3) and peat (1/3); the pH of the soil should be 5,5-6, 5.

Care

In early spring, old, damaged and ugly branches are removed.

Reproduction

Seeds propagate mainly groundcover species in August; sown in a special soil ground for seeds. Seeds germinate by the next season. When the seedlings grow up, they are planted singly in pots, and after 1-2 years - in the open ground. All species are also propagated by semi-woody cuttings (this year's branch with a "heel"). They are cut in July and planted to take root in a mixture of sand and peat, maintaining the temperature at a level not lower than 16-18 °C. When the roots appear, they are planted singly, after which they spend the winter in a closed, unheated room. Next year, you can plant it completely, but if the seedlings are not very strong, you should wait another year. Mahonia aquifolium can also be propagated by rooting processes.

Seeds propagate mainly groundcover species in August; sown in a special soil ground for seeds. Seeds germinate by the next season. When the seedlings grow up, they are planted singly in pots, and after 1-2 years - in the open ground.

All species are also propagated by semi-woody cuttings (this year's branch with a "heel"). They are cut in July and planted to take root in a mixture of sand and peat, maintaining the temperature at a level not lower than 16-18 °C. When the roots appear, they are planted singly, after which they spend the winter in a closed, unheated room. Next year, you can plant it completely, but if the seedlings are not very strong, you should wait another year. Mahonia aquifolium can also be propagated by rooting processes.

Diseases

Oidium provokes the appearance of whitish spots on the leaves, which are eliminated with the help of appropriate antifungal (anti-oidium) preparations, such as sulfur or karathane. Reddish spots on the upper side of the leaf and brownish powdery formations are the result of rust damage. They get rid of it with the help of fungicides based on dithiocarbamate.