Mahonia aquifolium

Mahonia aquifolium: Golden Spring Blooms and Blue-Black Berries

Mahonia aquifolium brings early-season cheer with slightly fragrant yellow flowers in spring, followed by clusters of blue-black berries in summer. Its bold, holly-like foliage adds year-round texture, starting reddish in spring, maturing to glossy dark green, then taking on purplish hues in fall and deepening to burgundy-bronze by winter. Upright and naturally architectural, it’s a dependable shrub for adding structure and colour in sun to part shade.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 3–6’
• Spread: 2–5’
• Flower Colour: Yellow
• Flowering Period: Spring
• Foliage: Spring foliage is reddish, maturing to glossy dark green with purplish hues in fall and burgundy-bronze by winter
• Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; prefers organic-rich soil and is adaptable once established

Uses and Benefits: A strong choice for woodland borders, mixed shrub plantings, foundation beds, and underplanting where you want dependable structure and four-season foliage colour. The spring flowers support early pollinators, while the berries add seasonal interest and wildlife value. Its bold leaves also make an excellent contrast to finer textures, helping plantings look fuller and more layered.

Care Instructions: Water regularly during the first season to establish, then water during extended dry periods for the best foliage finish. Mulch helps maintain even moisture and protects roots. Prune right after flowering if you need to shape or reduce size, and remove any winter-damaged stems in spring. If it spreads by suckers in rich soils, thin lightly to keep the clump tidy.

History: Native to western North America, Mahonia aquifolium is widely known as Oregon grape for its blue-black, grape-like berries. Long valued for its tough constitution and multi-season beauty, it remains a staple shrub for gardens that want colour beyond the flower season.

Final Thoughts: For bright spring bloom, summer berries, and foliage that deepens into rich winter tones, Mahonia aquifolium adds lasting structure and quiet drama to the garden.