Mahonia × media ‘Charity’

hybrid mahonia

Outstanding Qualities This statuesque, evergreen shrub is a stellar specimen for the winter garden. Mahonia x media ‘Charity‘ has dramatic, frond-like leaves that grow in whorls along its coarsely branched stems. Great sprays of soft yellow flowers appear in winter, developing into grape-like clusters of wax-coated black berries by late summer and autumn. Its inflorescences are somewhat lax. Beautiful foliage and upright growth habit make this hybrid mahonia a strong focal point in the garden. Plant it with Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, Stachyurus praecox, Helleborus x hybridus, Carex testacea and Cyclamen coum.‘Charity’ originated as a hybrid between M. japonica and M. lomariifolia at Donard Nursery in N. Ireland. It usually blooms after ‘Lionel Fortescue’ and its flowers are not as frost-resistant as those of ‘Lionel Fortescue’.
Culture Plant Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ in part shade with protection from winter winds. Water it during summer dry spells, at least for the first few seasons. Plants respond to a March application of slow-acting, balanced fertilizer by producing more flowers and deeper green leaves. To produce more basal branches, remove new leaf buds of young plants in early spring for the first two or three years.
Growing Habit ‘Charity‘ is a vase-shaped shrub that can reach 10 to 15 feet tall if not pruned. If pruned when young, the plant will reach 7 to 10 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. If a shorter plant is desired, it can be pruned back to a lower whorl of branches after flowering.
Hardiness USDA zones 7 to 9
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