[Willem-Jan]

For my garden in Italy I am looking for a variety of the mahonia shrub, which - in the future - will become a large group. Can someone help me out with the name of a variety which will grow this high? Thanks in advance!
Willem-Jan Kuiper, Le Marche

[oron peri]

Willem-Jan,

Mahonia x media 'Charity' is a good option.

[Willem-Jan]

Thank you for the advice, Oron!

[Fleur Pavlidis]

I assumed, when I first came to Greece, that Mahonia would do well. In truth the one I've planted here in Attica survives, just, in the shade of a tree but without showing signs of enjoying life. In the cooler, wetter climate of the village it does better but still it doesn't 'fill the eye' like the Cotinus or the Lagerstroemia next to it. I don't think we've mentioned Lagerstroemia indica on the Forum but it is a wonderful shrub for summer flowering in moderately good soil. The crinkly flowers come in a range of colours from purple, pink to white.

[Willem-Jan]

Thanks for your advice, Fleur. I am planning the mahonia, in semi shade, under a couple of pine trees and I assume that in the middle of Italy and close to the Sibillini range, conditions are less severe than yours. But I will keep your alternative in mind, as I am not going to plant out before the fall.

[Fleur Pavlidis]

The conversation about Lagerstroemia has been moved to that subject title.

[Trevor Australis]

Does anyone one grow Mahonia burmaensis (?) that William Waterfield grows in his garden on the French Riviera?

[Alisdair]

I think William Waterfield's splendid Mahonia is Mahonia lomariifolia. This grows well in other Riviera gardens, but I don't think it would be so happy in more extreme Mediterranean areas. it was originally introduced to cultivation in Europe from seeds from Burma (Myanmar) grown by Lawrence Johnston at Serre de la Madone, near Menton, and I think I saw plants of it still growing there too.

[John]

It seems that Mahonia lomariifolia is now a synonym for Mahonia oiwakensis!
There are some lovely ones from warmer climes that may do well for you. M. trifoliolata (not certain about the spelling) has some beautiful grey blue leaf forms and should really suit a Med climate but with a different habit to the above.
M. moranensis from Mexico is a glossy green and so far has done well here in London in a very dry spot.
More are coming into cultivation from both Asia and the Americas.

[Trevor Australis]

M lomarifolia does very well for me, tho' in our dryish conditions, and under big tall trees, it is not lush. It flowers well and has grown in that spot for at least 25 yrs. I also grew from seed a delightful smaller shrubby M. fremontii which comes from California. It has delicate but tough silver leaves and brown wiry stems. It has never flowered but has grown well. It, too, is about 25 yrs old. I like it well enough with the flowers but it would be exciting to see them, especially if the flowering co-incided with that of M. lomarifolia nearby. Imagine the potential hybrids.

[Alisdair]

Quite right John, correct name is indeed Mahonia oiwakensis now - and news to me; thanks!

[Hilary]

There were several Mahonia bushes growing in the gardens of the El Pardo Royal Palace outside of Madrid.
We also saw several growing in shade near  the Madrid  University area.