• Photo of Berberis x hortensis (Berberis x hortensiss)

Plant Profile: Berberis x hortensis

Names

Media Mahonia, Oregon Grape

  • Photo of Berberis x hortensis (Berberis x hortensiss)

Phonetic Spelling:BER-ber-is hor-TEN-sis

Genus:Mahonia

Species:

Family:Berberidaceae

Media Mahonia is a hybrid shrub that results from the crossing of different species. It thrives in various soil types but favors well-drained, acidic soil that remains consistently moist. For optimal growth, it should be planted in partial shade, ideally in a location shielded from strong winds. This resilient plant is drought-resistant and its berries are a favorite among birds.

It flourishes in woodland environments or can serve as a standout specimen in a garden. Additionally, it brings visual interest during the winter months. Unlike some other species in its genus, this plant does not self-seed readily in garden settings. Notably, it produces striking yellow flowers during the winter season.

Berberis x hortensis Feature Summary

Berberis x hortensis Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#fall color
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#winter interest
#fire
#deer resistant
#showstopper
#blue fruits
#bird friendly
#winter flowers

Similar Plants

Berberis x hortensis is often confused with:

Berberis x hortensis Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit raw or cooked
Australia, Asia, Europe
Fruit attracts birds
Perennial
Woody
Fruit
Blue/black clusters of grape-like showy fruits.
Black
Blue
< 1 inch
Flowers
Flowers from February to April with very sweetly scented yellow blooms.
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Winter
Leaves
The 10-24 inch long compound leaves have 11-17 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. The fall color is in reds.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Ovate
Obovate
Glossy
Leathery
Bark
Bark has insignificant ornamental value
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Winter Garden
Shade Garden
Songbirds

Berberis x hortensis Attributes

Berberis x hortensis: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Fruit raw or cooked

Berberis x hortensis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Australia, Asia, Europe

Berberis x hortensis: Wildlife Value

Fruit attracts birds

Berberis x hortensis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Berberis x hortensis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Berberis x hortensis Fruit

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Description

Blue/black clusters of grape-like showy fruits.

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Blue

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Berberis x hortensis: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Berberis x hortensis: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Berberis x hortensis Flowers

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Description

Flowers from February to April with very sweetly scented yellow blooms.

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Berberis x hortensis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Berberis x hortensis Leaves

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Description

The 10-24 inch long compound leaves have 11-17 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. The fall color is in reds.

Berberis x hortensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Berberis x hortensis: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Red/Burgundy

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Berberis x hortensis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Berberis x hortensis: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Berberis x hortensis Bark

Berberis x hortensis: Bark Description

Bark has insignificant ornamental value

Berberis x hortensis Whole Plant Traits

Berberis x hortensis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Berberis x hortensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Berberis x hortensis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Berberis x hortensis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Berberis x hortensis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Berberis x hortensis: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Berberis x hortensis Cultural Conditions

Berberis x hortensis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Berberis x hortensis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Berberis x hortensis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Berberis x hortensis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Berberis x hortensis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Berberis x hortensis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Berberis x hortensis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Berberis x hortensis Stem

Berberis x hortensis: Stem Color

grass
Green

Berberis x hortensis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Berberis x hortensis Landscape

Berberis x hortensis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Berberis x hortensis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Berberis x hortensis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Berberis x hortensis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Berberis x hortensis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees