Mahonia x media 'Charity' (Oregon grape 'Charity')

Other names: Mahonia 'Charity', Berberis x hortensis 'Charity'

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Variety or Cultivar

'Charity' is an upright, bushy, evergreen shrub with pinnate leaves divided into lance-shaped, sharply toothed, dark-green leaflets and racemes of small, fragrant, cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers from late autumn to late winter. Flowers are followed by ovoid, blue-black fruit.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
4 m	4 m	10-20 years
13 ft	13 ft	10-20 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

4 m

10-20 years

13 ft

10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Chalky
Clay
Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained
Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid
Alkaline
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade
Full Shade

Aspect

East
West
South
North

Exposure

Exposed
Sheltered

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Plant details

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. Tolerates sun if the soil is not too dry. Suitable for a woodland setting.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Architectural, Coastal, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, City, Low Maintenance, Woodland, Bees (attract & feed bees)

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Upright, Bushy

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Fragrance

Flowers are fragrant.

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

Pruning group 8.

Propagation methods

Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings

Pests and diseases

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Monthly care advice

Prune out unsightly shoots only (only when needed)

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Plant in partial or full shade (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (30)

Mahonia

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Mahonia nitens 'Cabaret' Oregon grape 'Cabaret'

Mahonia aquifolium Oregon grape

Mahonia aquifolium 'Atropurpurea' Oregon grape 'Atropurpurea'

Mahonia japonica Oregon grape

Mahonia x media 'Charity' Oregon grape 'Charity'

Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun' Oregon grape 'Winter Sun'

Mahonia x media 'Buckland' Oregon grape 'Buckland'

Mahonia x media 'Underway' Oregon grape 'Underway'

Mahonia x wagneri 'Pinnacle' Oregon grape 'Pinnacle'

Mahonia x wagneri 'Undulata' Oregon grape 'Undulata'

Mahonia lomariifolia Lomaria-leaved mahonia

Mahonia japonica 'Bealei' Leatherleaf mahonia

Mahonia aquifolium 'Apollo' Oregon grape 'Apollo'

Mahonia x media 'Lionel Fortescue' Oregon grape

Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress' Oregon grape 'Soft Caress'

Mahonia 'Pan's Peculiar' Mahonia 'Pan's Peculiar'

Mahonia oiwakensis Mahonia oiwakensis

Mahonia x savilliana Mahonia x savilliana

Mahonia aquifolium 'Cosmo Crawl' Oregon grape 'Cosmo Crawl'

Mahonia 'Volcano' Oregon grape 'Volcano'

Mahonia 'Blackfoot' Oregon grape 'Blackfoot'

Mahonia eurybracteata x nitens Hybrid mahonia

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Narihira' Oregon grape 'Narihira'

Mahonia aquifolium 'Smaragd' Oregon grape 'Smaragd'

Mahonia 'Sweet Winter' Oregon grape 'Sweet Winter'

Companion plants (42)

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Bergenia 'Dark Damsel' Elephant ears 'Dark Damsel'

Bergenia 'XXL' Elephant ears 'XXL'

Bergenia cordifolia 'Shoeshine Rose' (Shoeshine Series) Elephant ears 'Shoeshine Rose'

Bergenia 'Pink Ice' Elephant ears 'Pink Ice'

Bergenia 'Spring Fling' (Dragonfly Series) Elephant ears 'Spring Fling'

Bergenia 'Flirt' Elephant ears 'Flirt'

Bergenia 'Schneekristall' Elephant ears 'Schneekristall'

Bergenia 'Pugsley's Pink' Elephant ears 'Pugsley's Pink'

Bergenia 'Abendglocken' Elephant ears 'Abendglocken'

Bergenia (any variety) Elephant ears (any variety)

Bergenia 'Fire and Ice' Elephant ears 'Fire and Ice'

Bergenia cordifolia 'Jelle' Heart-leaf bergenia 'Jelle'

Bergenia cordifolia 'Rose' Elephant ears 'Rose'

Bergenia 'Mrs Crawford' Elephant ears 'Mrs Crawford'

Bergenia cordifolia 'Rosa Schwester' Elephant ears 'Rosa Schwester'

Bergenia 'Admiral' Elephant ears 'Admiral'

Bergenia purpurascens 'Irish Crimson' Purple bergenia 'Irish Crimson'

Bergenia 'Diamond Drops' Elephant ears 'Diamond Drops'

Bergenia 'Flower Joy' Elephant ears 'Flower Joy'

Bergenia cordifolia Heart-leaf bergenia

Related content

Discuss this plant

Re: Re: Mahonia Charity

Angie Robertson

920 0

Katharine
It has taken until now for my Mahonia to settle in and produce flowers. It's been magnificent this winter. So I suspect patience is all that is required. You are correct they prefer a part shade situation. I've read that if planted with too much sun the get rather tall and leggy.
I am however having trouble smelling the promised scent.

Posted: Sunday 2nd of February 2014 03:16 PM

Re: Mahonia Charity

Katherine Simmonds

920 1

I also have this mahonia, and although it is in part shady, which I thought it preferred, it doesn't seem to be growing at all. It looks healthy enough, but just a bud of flowers, no real blossoms. Any ideas?

Posted: Saturday 1st of February 2014 10:57 AM

Re: Re: Mahonia Charity

Shoot User

920 0

Thank you Angie. I will give it more water and maybe some liquid tonic and hope for the best.

Catherine

Posted: Thursday 17th of May 2012 08:05 PM

Re: Mahonia Charity

Angie Robertson

920 1

Hi Catherine....
I am interested in joining this topic. I planted a Mahonia x media charity in January also. Admittedly it cost a fraction of your more mature specimen, it has shown no sign of growth either.
One thing I do know is that larger specimens do take longer to settle into their new habitat than younger plants. It could be just sulking! I would also think that due to the size of your specimen - rain alone would not be suffice in the water department.
I was also under the impression that Mahonia prefer a bit of shade - all the best ones I have seen get some shade. I do of course stand to be corrected.
I hope someone else can add to this and set our minds at rest.
Cheers, Angie

Posted: Monday 14th of May 2012 03:53 PM

Mahonia Charity

Shoot User

920 2

Dear Shoot, In January we bought a Mahonia Charity, a large one which came over from Italy and cost £180. It has shown absolutely no new growth despite all the rain. Also, our gardener planted it in a sumnny spot. Is it going to be ok?

Posted: Saturday 12th of May 2012 10:53 AM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 11:11 AM

Re: Re: Will this shrub regrow if I cut it back harshly now.

Shoot User

1086 0

Hi Kathy,
Many Thanks, I will certainly look at doing that.

William .

Posted: Tuesday 1st of June 2010 08:53 PM