Mahonia gracilis

This evergreen shrub was collected by John Fairey and Carl Schoenfeld on multiple occasions in the San Carlos Mountains of Mexico in the early 1990s. Growing up to 12 feet tall with a canopy up to 10 feet wide, multiple branches emerge from the roots and cascade quickly to the ground, creating a dense web of corky limbs and attractive foliage. If this wild-style of growing doesn't suit your tastes, Mahonia gracilis can be easily espalied or trained into a small tree form as it matures. The leaves are bright green and rounded, lacking the sharp spines that many of Asian species possess. In late January to early February, this plant becomes lit up by long racemes of vivid yellow flowers. In our opinion, this is also the most fragrant of the Mahonias, with blooms that perfume the surrounding air with an intense floral aroma. When these flowers fall away, they are replaced by small dark blue fruits that are an excellent 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 gracilis is exceptionally cold tolerant and drought tolerant.