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Publication #FPS-375

Mahonia aquifolium Oregon Grapeholly1

Edward F. Gilman2

Introduction

With holly-like leaves, blue fruits, and striking yellow flowers, Oregon holly has much to offer in the landscape. Plants will grow in sun or shade but should be shaded in the winter to prevent the purplish leaves from browning. Transplanting is most successful with either potted or balled and burlapped plants. Oregon holly reaches three to seven feet tall with an equal spread. Plants grow moderately fast, spreading by the suckering root system.

General Information

Scientific name: Mahonia aquifolium
Pronunciation: mah-HOE-nee-uh awk-kwiff-FOLE-lee-um
Common name(s): Oregon grapeholly, Oregon hollygrape
Family: Berberidaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 5B through 8 (Fig. 1)
Figure 1. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: border; mass planting; container or above-ground planter; specimen; accent
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 3 to 6 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: slow
Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound
Leaf margin: spiny
Leaf shape: ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate; palmate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow
Flower characteristic: winter flowering; spring flowering; pleasant fragrance

Fruit

Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: black
Fruit characteristic: attracts birds

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multitrunked or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: brown
Current year stem/twig thickness: thick

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade
Soil tolerances: slightly alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches

Other

Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Cultivars include: 'Compacta' - about three feet tall; 'King's Ransom' - upright with bluish green leaves that turn bronze-red in winter, somewhat more tolerant of winter weather 'Mayhan Strain' - dwarf with glossy leaves; 'Repens' - can be used as a ground cover.

Pests and Diseases

Several leaf spots may be seen, but infected leaves can be picked off and destroyed.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS-375, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.