Mahonia x wagneri 'SUNSET' Wagner's Oregon grape, mahonia

I never expected to be so fascinated by a plant so common like mahonia – Oregon grape. Not that I would not be a fan of those, it is just that I have never seen a beauty in them like you see in the pictures of this rare hybrid of Wagner’s mahonia.

Sunset is a Wagner’s Oregon grape with attractive change of leaf colour. They are evergreen and leathery, pinnate - composed of 3 or 5 ovate, leaflets with small non-prickly spines. They emerge soft salmon orange, then mature to dark green, and in autumn they turn all shades of sunset: orange, salmon pink, coral red, carmine and purple red, and some yellow tones. It is a stunning view which lasts until spring when the plant begins to bloom. Flowers are composed of short, erect racemes. They are sulphur yellow and very fragrant. Bees and bumblebees feast on them as they are among the first melliferous plants to welcome guests to a dinner table.

This is a low growing shrub that does best in a semi-shaded spot, or in full sun if well mulched. Oregon grape mahonias are known to cope well with almost any type of soil including heavy clay, still, for best results we recommend moist, acidic, and well drained soil with reasonable quantity of organic matter. Pruning is possible after flowering and is suggested on older plants in order to maintain a compact shape without defoliated branches. The flowers may seem to come out too early in the spring but frosts usually cannot damage them as mahonia reliably flowers even under a snow cap. Fully hardy to abt. -27°C (USDA zone 5), possibly more but we have not had a chance to test it yet.

Last update 12-04-2015