Mahonia japonica 3

thats beautiful Andrew

vert pretty with the frost on..........

Now that looks amazing

Well-photographed.
Great mixture of colours in layers.

you can almost see it shivering! poor thing. obviously not happy with brutal cold.

It's as tough as old boots Lori. One of the first things I planted in the garden back in 1984

Would I be able to grow it in USDA zone 5b...do you think, Andrew?

Very nice picture Andrew.

One of my reference books says it is hardy to -20C (that's about -3F) so Zone 5b might be pushing it a bit

Thanks Andrew...it's one of the facts of life....living where I do...that when I see a shrub or plant listed in a catalogue or encyclopedia that it's hardiness is the first thing to be checked...I've been disappointed before and even tried some chancy ones...some would survive for two seasons but not much longer.

If this is mahonia japonica bealei then I think it would be very hardy and might work for you Lori. Even at the worst, it might freeze to the ground, but would come back. Add, to the fact that some of my plants have gone to climate zones they were not intended for. They survive, because of snow cover.

When and if, that winter comes without snow, they might not make it. In the meantime the gardener has had it for some 10 years.

There are so many crosses between M. bealei, fortunia that it is hard to keep up with. M. 'Golden Abunance' is one of those hybrids and would be totally happy in Zone 5.

M. lomarifolia crosses would be more tender. Portland OR temperatures. Low teens F.

The flowers are happy down to -20c.

Stunning plant.