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Help please

andy.mchughandy.mchugh Posts: 21
in Problem solving
hi all. Happy New Year. I have the tall plant in the photo and wondered how i care for it and how i would prune it? It is growing rather tall!

Thanks in advance

Posts

  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Mahonia, we have several of these. I just take off any bits I don’t want, and it sprouts well elsewhere. Pretty flowers, which are often fragrant depending on the variety, and purple berries the birds like.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They do become very large shrubs - in each direction. If you don't have somewhere else more suitable for it, you can simply prune it back each year. Best to do that in spring. You'll lose the flowering potential when you prune, but it won't need doing too often. Alternatively, remove the odd branch as @Ergates describes. 

    They're great for birds - the blue tits thoroughly enjoy getting in among the flowers at this time of year, and the blackbirds love the berries  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    It won't get much taller than that but it will develop more long shoots from low down and form a multi-stemmed shrub. Not one that will become invasive or horrible. It's a good thing to have. Here's a picture of a mature specimen:
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/five-of-the-best-mahonias-to-grow/
  • andy.mchughandy.mchugh Posts: 21
    Thanks all. I will be sure to use gloves. Its very prickly!
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Most likely Mahonia x media 'Charity'. Mine is 10 years old and roughly 2m x 2m. For the last 5 years I have removed the spent flowers, which has caused it to fill out and be as wide as it is tall. 

    If you'd like a mahonia in that spot you might like to look at one called 'Soft Caress'. As its name suggests, it is not prickly, and it's also considerably smaller than 'Charity'.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    The berries are also edible by humans, hence its common name "Oregon grape".  It's the state flower of Oregon.  But I doubt if anyone cultivates it for the fruit, you'd have to plant a lot of it to get a worthwhile crop.
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