How many meme’s can you cover in one post? I'm going for three...
Yes indeed, this is exactly how bright my
Mahonia gracilipes is right now. And that's why it's my favorite plant in the garden, this week.
The extreme contrasts continue when you look at the underside of the leaves, a ghostly white.
Although that white does rub off, as one visitor to my garden last summer discovered saying "oh and look, it rubs off!" (continues to rub, and rub, and rub...while I try not to slap him, hard)...
These berries follow tiny pink and yellow (nearly impossible to photograph) flowers. The stems seem to turn bright pink in reaction to the cold. My plant is still small but is should eventually reach 5-6 feet tall and almost as wide, although it's said to be a slow grower. This Chinese native is hardy to USDA Zone 7 and likes even water, well drained soil and some shade. It's such a crazy cool plant that I'm considering adding another.
The next mahonia I wanted to write about is
Mahonia nervosa, but where is it? Ya, that's the "learn from my mistakes part of this post." I planted it last spring before the killed-to-the-ground cordylines made a rebound. Now it's hidden. I should have known better, after all the cordylines always come back...eventually.
Pretty though eh? Especially wearing it's winter red...
I think I'm going to have to move it come spring, those dark leaves are just to good to stay hidden.
Although it does look rather wonderful with the strappy cordyline leaves. Perhaps it won't move far.
So since today is Foliage Follow-up (as is the 16th of every month, hosted by Pam on her blog
Digging) I figured I'd just keep going and highlight all of the mahonia growing in my garden, after all they seem to shine the brightest in the dead of winter.
Here are
Mahonia x media 'Charity' (on the right) and
Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque' (on the left).
'Charity' is a blooming fool this time of the year, no matter the weather. And yes, I realize I said
yesterday was the last I would share this plants blooms, but today I really mean it. Really.
'Curlyque' is less florific but that doesn't diminish its beauty one bit.
This is another M. fortunei but this one is
'Dan Hinkley' - what's the difference you ask? Well from my perspective the leaves are a little wider and a little flatter. Don't let the color mislead you as I think that's due to the light conditions where they're planted.
Mahonia 'Indianola Silver' - a horrible photo of a great plant.
Here's a laurel leaf to illustrate just how pearly the 'Indianola Silver' leaves are. I received this plant late last summer, my friend Even picked it up when he visited Dan Hinkley's Windcliff in Indianola, Washington (hence the name). You can read a little about that trip on his blog
Practical Plant Geek
This beauty is Evan's plant. Nice huh?
Finally,
Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'
Since the agaves which normally greet us at the backdoor are inside for the season this mahonia gets pride of place.
I do have another, larger, plant but trying to get a decent photo of it is nearly impossible. Not great plant placement on my part. This plant is so delicate it needs a better background (perhaps that's another "learn from my mistakes?...two in one post!). I think I'll plan to move it when the weather permits (which means my list of spring garden to-do's is getting longer).
So that's my mahonia collection, do you have a favorite plant in your garden this week? A reminder - the favorites "wrap up" for the month happens on Friday, January 30th. I hope you'll share your favorite plants there, as well as link to posts you've done earlier in the month!
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danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
