By Bernard
Cambridgeshire,
United Kingdom 
This Mahonia 'Charity' seems to have suffered a breakdown through damage at the growing point at the top of the stem. It is now throwing out vigorous sideways shoots which if I leave them will result in a distorted plant.
My natural reaction is to prune the main stem below this point, at a point above the next pair of leaves below hoping that this will restore the plant to its normal vertical growth pattern. I'm not certain however and would welcome any suggestions fro the more experienced members of GoY.
On plant
Mahonia x media 'Charity'
7 Jul, 2010
Answers
I think they are converted flower stems that have become shoots. The winter damage to the terminal bud will have caused the young developing flower stalks (these two at least) to change at the last minute and become shoots instead of flowers. If it is initiated early enough in their development, the hormones that control what cells become what can change.
7 Jul, 2010
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You've little choice really but to cut below that point - it's already put out shoots sideways I see, so I'd cut below that in hopes of persuading it that two new shoots are fine, but they need to grow up, not laterally.
7 Jul, 2010