Mahonia aquifolium
| Mahonia aquifolium | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 7' |
| Width: | 5' |
| Blooms: | Mid Winter-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Mahonia aquifolium (common name: oregon grape)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. It usually germinates in the spring[K]. 'Green' seed (harvested when the embryo has fully developed but before the seed case has dried) should be sown as soon as it is harvested and germinates within 6 weeks[K]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in late winter or spring. 3 weeks cold stratification will improve its germination, which should take place in 3 - 6 months at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division of suckers in spring[1]. Whilst they can be placed direct into their permanent positions, better results are achieved if they are potted up and placed in a frame until established[2].
Leaf cuttings in the autumn.
Cultivation: A very easy plant to grow, thriving in any good garden soil[2][3] and tolerating dense shade under trees[4][5]. It grows well in heavy clay soils and also succeeds in dry soils if it is given a good mulch annually[6]. It dislikes exposure to strong winds[K].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[7].
Very tolerant of pruning, plants can be cut back into old wood if they grow too large and straggly[8]. Spring is the best time to do this[8].
Suckers are fairly freely produced, with established plants forming dense thickets[3].
Most plants grown under this name are casual hybrids with M. repens[9]. This species is easily confused with M. pinnata[9], with which it also hybridizes[3].
The flowers are delicately scented[10]. A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[11].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[12][3].
This plant is the state flower of Oregon[13].
Range: Western N. America. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Mixed coniferous woods to 2000 metres. It is found in woods and hedgerows in Britain[14].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[15][16][17][13]. The fruit is almost as large as a blackcurrant and is produced in large bunches so it is easy to harvest[K]. It has an acid flavour, but it is rather nice raw and is especially good when added to a porridge or muesli[K]. Unfortunately, there is relatively little flesh and a lot of seeds, though some plants have larger and juicier fruits[K]. The cooked fruit tastes somewhat like blackcurrants[K]. The fruit can also be dried and stored for later use[18].
Flowers - raw. They can also be used to make a lemonade-like drink[19].
Medicinal: Oregon grape was often used by several native North American Indian tribes to treat loss of appetite and debility[20]. Its current herbal use is mainly in the treatment of gastritis and general digestive weakness, to stimulate the kidney and gallbladder function and to reduce catarrhal problems[20][18].
The root and root bark is alterative, blood tonic, cholagogue, diuretic, laxative and tonic[21][22][23][18]. It improves the digestion and absorption and is taken internally in the treatment of psoriasis, syphilis, haemorrhages, stomach complaints and impure blood conditions[21][8]. Externally, it has been used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash for blurry or bloodshot eyes[18]. The roots are harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use[8].
The fruit is an excellent gentle and safe laxative[18].
Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects[24] and is used as a bitter tonic[25]. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[24]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[24]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[24].
The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn[25].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots[26][27][18]. It is green according to another report[28].
Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit[28].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[28].
This species can be grown as a low hedge and does not need trimming. Because of its suckering habit, it also makes a good dense ground cover plant though it can be slow to become established[6][3].
Pollinators: Insects, self
Notes: A fool-proof plant for anywhere in the woodland garden, or near your soft fruit if you want to divert the birds.
We can supply in the spring.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: Berberis aquifolium.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ahrendt, Leslie. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 1961.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.