Mahonia bealei
| Mahonia bealei | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 7' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Mid Winter-Early Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Mahonia bealei
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: Thrives in any good garden soil[2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Survives under quite heavy tree cover[2], thriving in dense shade[3]. Prefers a semi-shaded woodland position in a damp, slightly acid to neutral humus-rich soil[4].
The fully dormant plant is hardy to about -20°c[5], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
Scarcely distinct from M. japonica[2][4], differing mainly in its broader leaflets which are placed closer together on the stem and its erect flower racemes[6]. It is often treated as a subspecies of M. japonica, despite the fact that this species is found in the wild whilst M. japonica is a cultigen and not a wild plant[2][4]. Plants of the two species are often confused in cultivation.
The flowers are sweetly scented[6].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus.
Range: E. Asia - W. China in Hupeh, Hubei, Sichuan and Taiwan.
Habitat: Damp woodlands in uplands around 2000 metres[5].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A pleasant acid flavour, it is nice when added to muesli or porridge[K]. Unfortunately, there is relatively little flesh and a lot of seeds[K]. The fruit is about 10mm long and 6mm wide[4], it ripens in April/May and if the plant is in a sheltered position the crops can be fairly heavy[K].
Medicinal: The leaf is febrifuge and tonic[7].
A decoction of the root and stems is antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, depurative and febrifuge[8][7]. A decoction is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, recurring fever and cough in rundown body systems, rheumatoid arthritis, backache, weak knees, dysentery and enteritis[8]. The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn[9].
Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects[7] and is used as a bitter tonic[9]. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[7]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[7]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[7].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Spring-Late Spring
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.