Mahonia nervosa
| Mahonia nervosa | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Mid Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Mahonia nervosa (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: An easily grown plant, it thrives in any good garden soil[2][3] but also succeeds in poor dry ones. Another report says that it is best on a lime-free soil[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a sunny position[5] but succeeds in heavy woodland shade[K].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus.
Plants are growing and fruiting well at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, but they do not generally do well in Britain[2].
Resistant to honey fungus[6].
Range: North-western N. America.
Habitat: Light dry woods and rocky ledges[7][8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9][5][10]. An acid flavour but it is rather nice raw, especially when added to muesli or porridge[K]. Unfortunately, there is relatively little flesh and a lot of seeds[K]. Too acid for most tastes but they are very good in jams, jellies, pies etc[11]. They can also be used to enhance the flavour of bland fruits or made into a refreshing lemon-flavoured drink[11]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[3].
Young tender leaves - cooked. Simmered in a small amount of water and eaten as a snack[11].
Medicinal: The root is alterative and tonic[12]. It improves the digestion and absorption and is recommended in the treatment of psoriasis, syphilis and impure blood conditions[12][13]. A decoction of the peeled and chopped root bark has been used as a wash in treating arthritis and as an eyewash for red itchy eyes[13].
The fruit is an excellent safe and gentle laxative[13].
Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects[14] and is used as a bitter tonic[15]. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[14]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[14]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[14]. The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn[15].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots[16][10][13].
Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit[17].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[17].
Plants can be grown as a ground cover, spaced about 30cm apart each way[18]. They are very slow to spread[18] and so will need weeding for their first few years after planting[K].
Pollinators: Insects
Notes: We could supply this in the 1999 catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: M. glumacea. Berberis glumacea. B. nervosa.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Ahrendt, Leslie. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 1961.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.