Mahonia x wagneri Fireflame

The Mahonia x wagneri 'Fireflame' is a variety of hybrid Mahonia that stands out for the superb autumn and winter colors of its foliage. In late winter, this evergreen bush offers a remarkable spectacle with its purple holly-like leaves, yellow flowers, and clusters of blue-black fruits. Slightly fragrant and nectar-producing, they will remind gardeners in colder regions of the flowering of mimosa trees. Truly adaptable, this mahonia tolerates a wide range of soils. Whether in the ground or in pots, it will thrive in all climates, even in the shade of large trees.

The Mahonia x wagneri Fireflame is an evergreen bush from the berberidaceae family, just like Berberis, Nandina, and Epimedium. It is a hybrid between the Mahonia aquifolium and its close relative M. pinnata, two species native to the northwest U.S.A, particularly California, Oregon, and British Columbia. Unlike Asian species, Mahonias from the American West tolerate the presence of limestone in the soil and are content with ordinary soil, even dry in summer once well established.

The 'Fireflame' cultivar, with moderately fast growth, has a bushy and upright habit. The bush reaches up to 2 m (7 ft) in height and 1.75 m (6 ft) in width. Its leaves persist in winter. They are alternately arranged on the branches, measuring about 30 cm (12 in) long, and are divided into tough and spiny leaflets. The foliage, bright green-yellow in spring, darkens in summer and takes on shades of orange, red, and purple under the effect of cold in autumn and winter. From February, or March depending on the region, numerous small flowers appear, slightly fragrant, gathered in generous pyramidal clusters of bright yellow color, measuring 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in). Highly visited by bees, these nectar-producing flowers give way to fairly decorative blackish-blue berries. Some birds are fond of these sour little fruits.

Perfectly hardy, tolerant of summer drought and limestone soils, unaffected by the roots of large trees, Mahonia 'Fireflame' is a colorful and versatile bush that can be used to bring color to the garden in all seasons. Resistant to wind and urban pollution, it tolerates full sun in cool regions or fairly dense shade in hot climates. Few shrubs possess as many qualities that make it almost indispensable in the garden. Mahonia x wagneri, like its parents, is highly adaptable and responds well to pruning, for example in a hedge. It can be used as a specimen in a small garden, in a shrub bed, as a defensive hedge, or even in pots on the terrace. Berberis and Sarcococca make good companions in the shade of large trees. In a Mediterranean-themed bed, for example, it can be associated with Garrya elliptica James Roof, Prunus illicifolia, and evergreen ceanothus, all native to California.

Tip: Do not plant too densely in beds, as it likes an airy environment and spreads somewhat through suckers, without being invasive.