Mahonia chochoco

This slow growing evergreen tree was first collected by John Fairey and Carl Schoenfeld in Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1989. Growing up to 15-20 feet tall at maturity (which can take about 20 years), this dazzling tree is truly one-of-a-kind. Asian Mahonia species are common in ornamental horticulture, but in our opinion they do not even hold a candle to the species native to Mexico. The foliage of Mahonia chochoco is bright green and entire, with no sharp spines like many of the Asian species. The bark is corky and textured, with slender limbs that tend to cascade towards the ground. In early January, racemes of bright yellow-gold flowers emerge densely on the tree, perfuming the air with their intense floral fragrance. These blooms persist for about 2 weeks and then fall to the ground like confetti. In early summer, small dark blue fruits take their place and are a great food source for native birds. These Mexican Mahonia species are not common in the United States and are difficult to find outside of our Garden. Plant in part sun and in very well-draining soil. Mahonia chochoco is very drought tolerant and recieves little to no damage in winter temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.