Soft Caress mahonia

Sun

Partial shade to full shade; gentle morning sun is suitable, but avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, but water during prolonged drought, especially in containers.

Soil

Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; mildly acidic to neutral conditions are ideal. Avoid waterlogged ground.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Small yellow flowers in upright clusters, usually in autumn into early winter; timing varies with climate.

Foliage

Evergreen, dark green leaves divided into many slender, spineless leaflets; new growth may have a bronze tint.

Growth

Slow to moderate.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.9 ft (0.58 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.2 ft (0.67 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (0.92 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant in shelter from cold, drying winds and strong afternoon sun.
• Water deeply during dry weather through the first growing season.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of leaf mould or compost mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Use a container with drainage holes and protect the root ball from hard freezing in colder areas.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed. After flowering, once severe frost risk has passed, remove dead or damaged stems and shorten selected long shoots to a healthy leafy side shoot.

Spring

Plant once the soil is workable; water thoroughly and mulch.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged growth after severe frost risk has passed, ideally after flowering.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry spells, particularly beneath trees and in containers.

Autumn

Enjoy the yellow flowers and keep fallen leaves from smothering the lower foliage.

Late autumn

Move containers into a sheltered position where winters approach its hardiness limit.

Winter

Check that pots drain freely and water sparingly during frost-free dry weather.

• Plant beneath deciduous trees with ferns and hellebores for contrasting evergreen textures.
• Repeat along a shaded path where its spineless foliage can be appreciated close up.
• Use in a sheltered courtyard container for year-round structure without a bulky outline.
• Group in a small shaded border with broad-leaved hostas to contrast fine and bold foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Winter interest, Small-space and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Hostas, Japanese painted fern, Epimediums, Japanese forest grass and Camellias.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for insects active in mild autumn and winter weather. Birds may eat the blue-black berries when fruit develops.

• Brown or bleached leaves: protect from harsh afternoon sun and cold, drying winds; maintain moisture without saturating the soil.
• Root rot in wet ground: improve drainage or move to a raised bed; do not leave containers standing in water.
• Rust or fungal leaf spots: remove badly affected leaves, clear fallen foliage and avoid overhead watering.
• Winter dieback near its cold limit: choose a sheltered site, mulch the root zone and wait until spring to assess and remove dead growth.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is generally identified as a serious poisoning hazard, but this ornamental shrub should not be treated as a food plant; eating substantial quantities may cause stomach upset.

• Bamboo-leaved mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata)

  Other forms of the same species can look very similar, but may have more toothed leaflets and a less compact habit. A reliable cultivar label is the best confirmation.

• Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)

  Has branching, finely divided leaves, often with red seasonal colour, and white flowers followed by red berries rather than yellow flower spikes.

• Japanese mahonia (Mahonia japonica)

  Has much broader, stiff, sharply spined leaflets and generally grows into a larger shrub.

Mahonia honours Bernard McMahon, an Irish-born American nurseryman, while 'Soft Caress' refers to the cultivar's soft, spineless foliage.

Propagation. Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer can preserve the cultivar's characteristics; seed-grown plants will not reliably come true. Check local plant breeders' rights before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Mahonia eurybracteata

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.