Family Berberidaceae,
Garden Origin.
- Feathery, elegant evergreen foliage forms a compact, lush mound.
- Orange/red flowers bloom in winter on tall racemes.
- Hardy and easy-to-grow in any well-drained soil in part shade.
Oregon Grape ‘Volcano’ in Your Garden
Refined and exotic, this new variety combines elegant foliage with a brilliantly hot, scented winter floral display. Its abundant feathery leaves add a soft texture to any space. Easy to grow, it is hardy in all except the coldest exposed UK gardens, reaching 1m high and wide in 5–10 years.
Mahonia ‘Volcano’ forms a lush exotic woodland shrub, its pinnate leaves creating a dense, architectural evergreen display topped with vibrant spikes of orange and red flowers. Perfect for dappled shade in Norfolk’s jungle gardens, it also makes an eye-catching potted specimen for Suffolk’s traditional shady patios.
Its tall racemes of orange/red flowers have a honey-like perfume, attracting late pollinators in autumn and winter. Dusky purple-black berries follow them, and are loved by birds, making this variety perfect for wildlife-friendly gardens.
Growing Tips For Your Mahonia ‘Volcano’
- Soil and Sun: Plant in any soil; part shade is ideal.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting is fine if extra attention is given to watering. Never plant a dry plant; plunge in its pot for 10 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Water-in thoroughly after planting.
- Watering: Moderate; once established, it requires only occasional watering in summer drought conditions. Water regularly in its first summer after planting.
- Pruning: None required. Trim after flowering to shape if desired.
Fine, deep, silvery-green leaflets and fiery blooms make this evergreen lush exotic woodland shrub a go-to variety. Its low-growing habit is perfect for underplanting, making a distinctive bushy ground cover below taller shrubs or trees. Unlike many Mahonias, it has spine-free leaves that make it safe and versatile for planting at close quarters.
Planting Suggestions for Mahonia ‘Volcano’
Delight in dramatic yet delicate cascading masses of foliage. Arrange the soft and relaxing textures of fine-leaved shrubs and trees to create an undulating and organic escape. Plant Veronica stenophylla, Frangula ‘Ron Williams’, Fargesia rufa and ‘Woolong’, Sophora ‘Little Baby’, and frangula alnus ‘Asplenifolia’ amongst Mahonia ‘Volcano’.
Add Acacia retinodes ‘Blue Leaved‘, Eucalyptus nicholii, Albizia ‘Summer Chocolate’ and ‘Evey’s Pride’ for taller lacy and slender foliage. Freylinea lanceolata, Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’, Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’, and Hakea lissosperma add floral drama. Aquilegia ‘Black Barlow’, Actea ‘Chocoholic’, and Achillea ‘Pretty Belinda’ add a feathery herbaceous flourish.
