Mahonia repens

RHS Plant Profile

creeping-rooted barberry

Other common names

edging barberry, holly grape

Shrubs

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An upright, suckering evergreen shrub to a height of 30cm with glossy, spiny and wavy-margined foliage. Bunches of rounded, fragrant, dark yellow flowers are borne in mid to late spring, followed by round blue-black berries

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Sand Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Berberidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Suckering, Bushy
Potentially harmful: Berries are ornamental; not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Mahonia are evergreen shrubs with leathery, pinnate leaves which are often spine-toothed, and clustered racemes of sometimes fragrant yellow flowers, sometimes followed by black or purple berries
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Western N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained or moist but well-drained soil in shade or partial shade. They will tolerate sun if the soil does not dry out in summer. Good for a woodland setting and groundcover on shady banks or slopes. See mahonia cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed outdoors in autumn as soon as ripe or by semi-hardwood cuttings from late summer to autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Banks and slopes
Ground cover

Pruning

pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust and Powdery mildews