I have a few evergreen berberis that have great fragrance in late winter here in southeast US..they make good hedging plants but with a kind of wicked nature from spines on the branches. The pollinators love them...Have you seen "soft caress" ??? It is the best cultivar in my opinion. I'm sure you could grow it because cold here can kill it.
We have Mahonia/Berberis bealei and it spreads prolifically from seed. Every year, in early May, in NE Georgia, US, Cedar waxwing descend and eat all the berries left within a few days. It almost sounds like a light rain as they defecate in large numbers, spreading the seeds. Perhaps your birds are getting to the berries before they are fully ripe and so aren't viable yet. I notice, while eating the berries, that the seeds don't darken, and I assume mature fully, until the berries are quite ripe.
Different climates and predators make for different results and certainly Mahonias have shown no sign of spreading around me in my 40 year of growing them. Regards Stephen
Brilliant episode, I have 4 Mahonia media in my garden flowers november till January and after discovering the berries are edible we pick them from April early spring till June really the first edible ripe fruit of the year I don't know if the berries of all species are edible but I've eaten many from the various varieties growing in england. I usually cook them lightly and make a juice with water and honey added, They have a rich flavour not sweet some varieties have nicer fruit than others.
The variety's that flower earliest provide the earliest fruit so for me that's a form of Mahonia Media x ( winter sun ) flowers November till January fruit April till June in the northern hemisphere, but if winter has prolonged periods below freezing around negative 5 during flowing you start to see a reduction in fruit set. Winters are often mild here in mid England rarely dropping below negative 1 so usually we get a good fruit set and you need some days warm enough for pollinators to be out during autumn/winter I regularly see bees on the Mahonia if the temps are above 5c. The fruit of hybrid Media x winter Sun are the nicest I've tried but let them ripen fully then pluck the whole bunch if possible. I've found spring flowering varieties like Mahonia Aquifolium which ripen fruit late summer have a harsher tarter flavour.
@@jlee4304 Thank you :). I just found out that I can buy Winter Sun here in Denmark, so I will try that. Came to my mind that I had thought of that, but did not know if it was possible with any real useful fruitset. Winters here can probably be colder than in your place, but we can also have mild ones
One of my favorite plants. Unfortunately, mahonia is now reviled in the US as an invasive. I see a very occasional seedling of M. bealei in forests neighboring residences, but not in numbers to be concerning. I see no seedlings from handfuls of hybrids in my garden or other mahonias. My only complaint about mahonia is the many wounds inflicted by the spiky old growth leaves that are shed. Almost as bad as monkey puzzle, but the mahonias are worth the suffering.
Will you explain what it is about all these Mahonias/Berberis that puts them into this species. I cannot understand what puts the Mahonia gracilipis into this species. Also, what organization has the authority to put plant species into new categories and to change the names of plants we have known for so long all over the world?
The fact that DNA can be studied is the main reason for plant name changes as this proves relationships that can't be observed with the naked eye and it isn't a personal insult to the home gardener. The flowers of all Mahonia and Berberis are Identical and the compound leaves of the Mahonias has proven not to be enough to keep them in seperate Genera. Regards Stephen
Another fab video! I recently took a chance buying a Mahonia 'volcano' and 'cabaret', could not find much info at all on either.. but hopefully i can always prune them if they get unweildly! 🤞
💞👍Thank for sharing. Do birds and insects, help to pollinate/fertilise the Mahonia? I’ve got a suspect, emerging in the garden and I have suspicions, as its leaves are looking holly/mahonia esq. it’s very small, in two localised areas of the garden and I daren’t pull it up, in case it’s not a weed! Cheers 🫶
What a shame. We really don’t hear enough about women who have contributed so much to our country. Thank for the video about Ellis Rogan, I thought it wonderful. Julie from Toowoomba.
You guys are so funny. Thanks for the video. Very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it! Regards Stephen
I purchased an excellent mahonia from your nursery two years ago. It’s absolutely thrived and is now flowering.
Wonderful! Regards Stephen
Thank you! I'm getting the M. gracilipes as I'm watching your video! Found it here in an oregon nursery!!
Well done! It is a great plant. Regards Stephen
Loved this .. also thanks for your talk at Wangaratta yesterday
My pleasure 😊 Regards Stephen
I have a few evergreen berberis that have great fragrance in late winter here in southeast US..they make good hedging plants but with a kind of wicked nature from spines on the branches. The pollinators love them...Have you seen "soft caress" ??? It is the best cultivar in my opinion. I'm sure you could grow it because cold here can kill it.
Soft Caress isn't in Australia unfortunately but I'm sure I could grow it if I could get it. Regards Stephen
It was very popular here in the SE until a "normal" winter came along and killed off many of them...I guess we push the limits too often...
The flowers are stunning 🤩 thanks for an informative video
My pleasure 😊 Regards Stephen
Thanks for another great informative video. Always my favourite thing to watch on a Friday night.
Well thank you!
We have Mahonia/Berberis bealei and it spreads prolifically from seed. Every year, in early May, in NE Georgia, US, Cedar waxwing descend and eat all the berries left within a few days. It almost sounds like a light rain as they defecate in large numbers, spreading the seeds. Perhaps your birds are getting to the berries before they are fully ripe and so aren't viable yet. I notice, while eating the berries, that the seeds don't darken, and I assume mature fully, until the berries are quite ripe.
Bealei seeds for me too here in Southern Oz, not that far from Stephen Ryan’s place. Not that prolifically though.
Different climates and predators make for different results and certainly Mahonias have shown no sign of spreading around me in my 40 year of growing them. Regards Stephen
Brilliant episode, I have 4 Mahonia media in my garden flowers november till January and after discovering the berries are edible we pick them from April early spring till June really the first edible ripe fruit of the year I don't know if the berries of all species are edible but I've eaten many from the various varieties growing in england. I usually cook them lightly and make a juice with water and honey added, They have a rich flavour not sweet some varieties have nicer fruit than others.
Intersting to read your comments one edibility but I rarely find a ripe berry due to our voracious birds. Regards Stephen
I am interested in knowing what type you find have the nicest fruit? And earliest? I love growing unusual fruitplants here in Denmark.
The variety's that flower earliest provide the earliest fruit so for me that's a form of Mahonia Media x ( winter sun ) flowers November till January fruit April till June in the northern hemisphere, but if winter has prolonged periods below freezing around negative 5 during flowing you start to see a reduction in fruit set. Winters are often mild here in mid England rarely dropping below negative 1 so usually we get a good fruit set and you need some days warm enough for pollinators to be out during autumn/winter I regularly see bees on the Mahonia if the temps are above 5c. The fruit of hybrid Media x winter Sun are the nicest I've tried but let them ripen fully then pluck the whole bunch if possible. I've found spring flowering varieties like Mahonia Aquifolium which ripen fruit late summer have a harsher tarter flavour.
@@jlee4304 Thank you :). I just found out that I can buy Winter Sun here in Denmark, so I will try that. Came to my mind that I had thought of that, but did not know if it was possible with any real useful fruitset. Winters here can probably be colder than in your place, but we can also have mild ones
One of my favorite plants. Unfortunately, mahonia is now reviled in the US as an invasive. I see a very occasional seedling of M. bealei in forests neighboring residences, but not in numbers to be concerning. I see no seedlings from handfuls of hybrids in my garden or other mahonias. My only complaint about mahonia is the many wounds inflicted by the spiky old growth leaves that are shed. Almost as bad as monkey puzzle, but the mahonias are worth the suffering.
I agree with you about their value and usually try to send the under gardener in to weed around them. Regards Stephen
Good video! Have you heard of the new Soft Cress Mahonia bred in US now available? Yet to find it here in BC, Canada. It has smooth leaves.
I've seen it in Europe but alas it hasn't made it to Australia. Regards Stephen
Will you explain what it is about all these Mahonias/Berberis that puts them into this species. I cannot understand what puts the Mahonia gracilipis into this species. Also, what organization has the authority to put plant species into new categories and to change the names of plants we have known for so long all over the world?
The fact that DNA can be studied is the main reason for plant name changes as this proves relationships that can't be observed with the naked eye and it isn't a personal insult to the home gardener. The flowers of all Mahonia and Berberis are Identical and the compound leaves of the Mahonias has proven not to be enough to keep them in seperate Genera. Regards Stephen
@@thehorti-culturalistsI understand the reason for names changes but they are coming a bit too thick and fast for me! 😅
Another fab video! I recently took a chance buying a Mahonia 'volcano' and 'cabaret', could not find much info at all on either.. but hopefully i can always prune them if they get unweildly! 🤞
Thanks for watching!
💞👍Thank for sharing. Do birds and insects, help to pollinate/fertilise the Mahonia? I’ve got a suspect, emerging in the garden and I have suspicions, as its leaves are looking holly/mahonia esq. it’s very small, in two localised areas of the garden and I daren’t pull it up, in case it’s not a weed!
Cheers 🫶
they do both pollinate the Mahonias and it could be seedlings in your garden so wait and see. Regards Stephen
Hi from Dunedin New Zealand - how hard can i prune a hebe hedge
It depends a bit on the Hebe but I wouldn’t usually prune back beyond the foliage for safety. Regards Stephen
Why did you pull down the video about Ellis Rowan?
The Australian Club wasn't happy with it.
@@thehorti-culturalists Oh, good grief. It was a lovely video, I thought.
What a shame. We really don’t hear enough about women who have contributed so much to our country. Thank for the video about Ellis Rogan, I thought it wonderful. Julie from Toowoomba.
Hi Stephen wonder if mahonia would survive GC weather ?
GC?
Goldcoast qld
I wish they'd stop renaming everything. It will always be Mahonia to me!
Wrong attitude! The names will change despite you and it could be taken as a challenge to learn the new ones. Regards Stephen
@@thehorti-culturalists Hmmm . . . but how will I be a curmudgeon then?! 😂
What about Berberis Nevenii? Also a slow grower and a great bird plant.
We just focused on the plants in Stephen's garden!