Mahonia pallida

RHS Plant Profile

pale Oregon grape

Shrubs

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A mulit-stemmed evergreen shrub about 1.5m tall, with glossy green leaves composed of narrow, oval toothed leaflets, blue-green when young. Small pale greenish-white flowers 1.2cm across, yellow inside in drooping panicles, from midsummer to autumn followed by blue-black fruit with a white bloom

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: 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

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Berberidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Berries are ornamentalnot 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

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerates a wide range of soil types and positions, but thrives in humus-rich, moist soil in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold drying winds. See mahonia cultivation

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free