Oregon Grape - Mahonia aquifolium - €11 per plant 

The Oregon Grape is a great little shade tolerant evergreen that provides edible berries from July-Sep.   It makes a great under story shrub for densely shaded areas. It has something for every season - holly like bronze-red leaves and clusters of cheerful yellow flowers in the spring and blue-purple berries in the late summer that are edible.  The dark green foliage of the summer leaves changes to an attractive deep burgundy in the autumn  The plant flowers early in the year providing a valuable source of forage to pollinating insects.  To order this plant please contact us balkanecologyproject@gmail.com. 

Context

  • native region: N. America 
  • native habitat: Mixed coniferous woods to 2000 metres
  • family: Berberidacea

Predators

  • Birds are attracted to berries 
  • Deer and Rabbits 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Deep shade or Semi-shade 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Keep weed free until plant has established 
  • Water when dry in summer  until plant is established  
  • Tolerates drought 
Picture
Yellow Raceme turns into deep purple nutritious berries

Overview

  • Evergreen Shrub growing to 2m by 1.5m 
  • Flowers from Jan to May, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, self pollinated 
  • The plant is self-fertile. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • Can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
  • Prefers dry or moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Evergreen shrub
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: multi-stemmed, suckering  
  • height x width (m): 2 x 1.5
  • years to bearing fruit: 
  • productive life span: 5-20 years 

Products 

  • Fruit: Berry; August- Sep ,Good eaten raw 
  • Yield: 1 kg each summer at maturity
  • Wood: A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots 
  • Flowers: nectary, attracting bees. They can also be used to make a lemonade-like drink
  • Understory ground cover 

Functions, behaviours

  • animal dispersed seed
  • drops leaves in early winter
  • propagation by division
  • self pollinates
  • Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus
  • A very easy plant to grow, thriving in any good garden soil
  • Very tolerant of pruning

Polyculture Partners - plants that should grow well with Mahonia aquifolium 

Picture

    If you would like more information about this polyculture click to here to move over to our blog article. 
    If you would like this plant  please send an email to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com with your order. 
    Balkan Ecology Project