Mahonia repens
| Mahonia repens | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| 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 |
 | |
Mahonia repens (common name: creeping 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], preferring one on the dryish side. Grows well in heavy clay soils. 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].
The flowers are scented[5].
Resistant to honey fungus[6].
Range: Western N. America.
Habitat: Hills and slopes, often in partial shade[7], usually on dry slopes[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[7][9]. 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]. Used for making jams. jellies etc. They can also be made into a refreshing lemonade-like beverage[9]. When sugar is added, the fruit juice is similar to grape juice[10]. The fruit is about 9mm in diameter[4].
Medicinal: The root and root bark is alterative, anaphrodisiac, antiseptic, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative and tonic[11][12]. It improves the digestion and absorption and is taken internally in the treatment of coughs, fevers, psoriasis, syphilis, haemorrhages, stomach complaints, kidney problems and impure blood conditions[11][12][13]. Externally, it is used as an antiseptic and healing wash or poultice on wounds and rheumatic joints[13]. The roots are harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use[12].
A poultice of the fresh berries has been applied to boils[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[8][13]. It is green[16].
Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit[16].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[16].
Plants form suckers freely, making a good dense ground cover[2][4], though they can be slow to become established[17] and will need weeding for their first few years after planting out[K]. The sub-species M. repens rotundifolia has been especially recommended[17]. A useful plant for preventing soil erosion on slopes[8].
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. nana. Berberis nana. B. repens.
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.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Arnberger, Leslie. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments, 1968.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Davis, Ray and Frank Craighead. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. The Riverside Press, 1963.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.