Mahonia pumila
| Mahonia pumila | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Mahonia pumila (common name: dwarf barberry)
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 well-drained garden soil[2], preferring one on the dryish side. Prefers a sunny position[2], but also succeeds in the light shade of trees[K].
This species is hardy to about -15°c if growing in a sheltered position[3].
Established plants sucker freely and form quite dense thickets[4].
Resistant to honey fungus[5].
Range: South-western N. America - California and southern Oregon.
Habitat: Mountains[2]. Open woods and rocky areas at elevations of 300 - 1200 metres[6].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. We have seen no reports of edibility for this species, but it is certainly not poisonous. The fruit is likely to have an acid flavour and be suitable for making jams. jellies etc. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[4].
Medicinal: A decoction of the roots is used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for coughs[7].
Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects[8] 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[8]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[8]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[8]. The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn[9].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots[10][7]. It is green[11].
Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit[11].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[11].
This species forms suckers freely and should make a good dense ground cover in a sunny position[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Berberis pumila
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.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ Flora of North America.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Arnberger, Leslie. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments, 1968.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.