Mahonia Eurybracteata ‘Sweet Winter’

This is one of our friendlier Mahonias reaching up to 1m in height. If you’ve been put off by Mahonias having been savaged by one of the heavier and typically-spiky types, then this specimen is, as they say, ‘a game-changer’ for both you and your garden. It retains the parasols of shiny, deeply divided leaves which give the genus that unmistakable form and varnish while having none of the toothy aggression of its cousins. Hovering in whorls, the fine evergreen leaves are spine-free and widely-spaced on chocolatey stems (think matchmakers - delicious). The foliage will emerge a warm and rich metallic bronze and look incredible against a late spring blue sky. They will mature to a very dark green, creating a perfect contrast for its racemes of vibrant yellow flowers. These will be thrown out in profusion and are guaranteed to satisfy the appetite of even the most rapacious of ‘greedy gardeners’. The flowers are unscented but followed by blue-black berries with a lustrous, dusty bloom on them. 

Upright and delicate but still managing to be a dense plant, Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Sweet Winter’ is fantastically architectural. Low maintenance a multi-stemmed specimen is a very handsome plant that’s great for underplanting taller trees or into areas of dappled shade.

Position any aspect in sun to partial shade on any moist but well drained soil.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.