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Mahonia - anyone got a good one ?

chickychicky Posts: 10,328
in Plants

Looking for mahonia recommendations.  We have a shady spot near the backdoor which is crying out for one, but don't really know where to start.

Would like big flowers, good scent if possible.

Oh, and not Soft Caress, as the deer eat that one.  A good old fashioned do-er would be best

Many thanksimage

Posts

  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    Glad you don't want Soft Caress. What my dad would have called a 'botannical dowdy'. I'd say, "Much ado about nothing" and flippin' expensive.  Sheer size can be an issue with Charity and Lionel Fortescue, lovely though they are given the space. Have a look at M. x wagneri 'Pinnacle'.  Neat and fairly upright, I found it performed well in a shady spot on clay, with a bit of autumn colour in the leaves and flowers that were quite showy. Alternatively, try m. x media 'Winter Sun.  It's smaller than the 'biggies' but has good sized, scented racemes of flower.

    H-C 

    Last edited: 12 November 2016 11:47:42

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,262

    Winter Sun, does well for me in the woodland, which is very shady. Has large flowers with a good scent.

    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,043

    Winter Sun is a nice one, does well in our silty peat. Not sure I would want it near to a door though, bit prickly.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,817

    I have Charity and Soft Caress (no deer near me). I got the latter as a teeny weeny cheapy but it is now starting to show its flowers. I'll try and get a picture when the blooming rain stops.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,817

    image

    This is Soft Caress - only 40-50cm high. It suits my little garden perfectly.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,376

    This is Dove , I've been looking at Mahonia Buckland

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,307

    I'll second Winter Sun - grows quite quickly here but doesn't get as big as Charity.

    Mine is starting to flower now - it's east facing, with a hedge and fence behind it. Been in the ground a couple of years and is about a metre tall but about half that in width. There's a good number of flower clusters on it.

    image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,328

    Thanks folks - have been googling now that you have given me clues on where to start.  Think it'll be a toss up between Buckland and Winter Sun.

    Berghill - the spot I have is near to the back door rather than next to it - so should be alright with the spikinessimage

    Great pics Fairy and Ladybird - very cheering having something starting to flower at this time of year.

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