General Culture:
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained, acidic soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils. If large area is to be covered, 8-12 plants per square yard should be sufficient. Appreciates a protected location in USDA Zone 5.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Creeping mahonia (sometimes also called creeping hollygrape) is a low-growing, stoloniferous, evergreen shrub or shrublet which typically grows to 1' tall and spreads by underground stems to form an attractive ground cover. Features holly-like, odd-pinnate, compound leaves with oval, spiny-toothed, leathery, bluish-green leaflets (usually 3-7). Foliage turns purplish in winter. Deep yellow flowers appear in small racemes (1-3") in spring and are followed by small clusters of grape-like, dark bluish-purple berries (1/4" diameter) which mature in late summer. Berries are very sour but edible and can be used in jellies. Yellow stem wood was used by Native Americans to produce yellow dyes and a bitter tonic.
Problems:
Susceptible to rusts and leaf spots. Chlorosis can be a problem in alkaline soils. Leaf scorch may occur in winter, especially when plants are grown in exposed areas. Occasional insect visitors include aphids, scale and whitefly.
Uses:
Excellent evergreen ground cover for sunny areas.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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