Mahonia eurybracteata Sweet Winter

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Sweet Winter' is very different from other varieties of mahonia. Certainly, it is evergreen and offers its yellow flowering in autumn-winter like its counterparts, but its overall appearance is quite surprising. Far from the stiffness of other mahonias, 'Sweet Winter' stands out with its flexible and light foliage, and above all, it is non-spiny. Outside of the flowering period, it could easily be mistaken for certain ferns, such as Cyrtomium or others. Its compactness is also astonishing: while its cousins easily exceed 2m (7ft), it reaches a height of 1m (3ft) after 10 years. Planted potentially in full sun but preferably in partial shade, its exotic and highly sculptural aspect will find its place in a Japanese or contemporary garden.

With its bright yellow flowering appearing between November and January, 'Sweet Winter' brings comfort to the heart of the cold season, in all regions that cannot accommodate winter mimosas. Its long erect clusters are adorned with a multitude of small yellow flowers at a rare time for blooming. These give rise to decorative berries the colour of blueberries in late winter.

Its foliage is not to be outdone. Sculptural like all mahonias, its foliage is, however, non-spiny, which is a definite advantage. Due to its small size, it can be planted at the edge of a flower bed without fear of being scratched at every contact. This is especially important, as the lightness of the foliage entices you to run your hand across it as you would with a silky fabric! Remaining compact over time, it reaches a maximum height of 1.5m (5ft) and does not thin out at the base like many other varieties, which is another asset to its credit. A small shrub ideal for partially shaded situations, it should be planted in a location sheltered from cold winds, in moist, humus-rich soil. Its hardiness is moderate (-12°C (10.4°F) approximately); in very cold climates, it can be planted in a container to overwinter it away from severe frosts.

The distinctive aesthetics of this variety naturally encourages planting with shrubs such as nandinas and Japanese maples. Plant it with Fatsia japonica, with its large leaves to create a contrast of forms, or with Camellia sasanqua, which flowers at the same time for a varied blooming assortment, or with Hamamelis 'Diane' for the same reason. Similarly, hellebores at its base will ensure a beautifully flowered winter scene. A variegated Fatshedera lizei is another recommended companion for our little mahonia, as well as Hart's tongue fern, or even a Skimmia, whose bright red winter berries will respond to the dark blue of those of 'Sweet Winter'.

Mahonias belong to the Berberidaceae family, which includes about 700 species distributed in 18 genera, the most well-known of which are berberis, nandinas, and epimediums. In addition to the appearance of their often glossy and spiny leaves, these shrubs are easily identifiable by the yellow colour of their roots. This is due to the presence of berberine, a powerful alkaloid with pharmaceutical properties, traditionally used in Chinese medicine.