Mahonia repens

RHS Plant Profile
creeping-rooted barberry

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Other common names

edging barberry, holly grape

Plants for pollinators
Shrubs
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An upright suckering evergreen shrub to a height of 30cm. Leaves are glossy, spiny and wavy-margined. Scented bunches of rounded deep 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 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
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

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
  • Low Maintenance
  • Banks and slopes
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust and powdery mildews