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Shrubs

Mahonia pallida

pale Oregon grape

A mulit-stemmed evergreen shrub about 1.5m tall, with glossy green leaves composed of narrow, oval toothed leaflets, blue-green when young. Small pale greenish-white flowers 1.2cm across, yellow inside in drooping panicles, from midsummer to autumn followed by blue-black fruit with a white bloom

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Berberidaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Berries are ornamental, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Mahonia are evergreen shrubs with leathery, pinnate leaves which are often spine-toothed, and clustered racemes of sometimes fragrant yellow flowers, sometimes followed by black or purple berries
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Tolerates a wide range of soil types and positions, but thrives in humus-rich, moist soil in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold drying winds. See mahonia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn or soon as ripe, or by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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