Mahonia x wagneri Pinnacle

The Mahonia x wagneri 'Pinnacle' is a selection of hybrid Mahonia with remarkable flowering, both in terms of abundance and its lily-of-the-valley-like fragrance, reminiscent of mimosa. It appears in late winter or early spring, surrounded by young bronze-tinted holly leaves. Nectar-bearing, the flowering feeds bees during a time of year when resources are scarce, and its lovely clusters of fruits bring joy to birds. It is an evergreen bush with a wide and dense habit that integrates perfectly into a hedge or thicket. Truly adaptable, this Mahonia adapts to a wide range of soils and thrives in all climates, including the shade of large trees.

The Mahonia x wagneri Pinnacle is an evergreen bush of the Berberidaceae family, just like Berberis, Nandina, and Epimedium. It is a hybrid between the Mahonia aquifolium and its close relative M.pinnata, two species native to the northwest United States, particularly California, Oregon, and British Columbia. Unlike Asian species, Mahonias from the American West tolerate the presence of limestone in the soil and are content with ordinary, even dry, soil once well established.

The 'Pinnacle' Mahonia, moderately fast-growing, has a both dense and wide habit. The bush reaches between 1.50 m (5ft) and 1.75 m (6ft) in all directions. Its leaves persist in winter. They are alternately arranged on the branches, measuring about 30 cm (12 in) long, and are divided into tough and spiny leaflets. The glossy foliage, tinted with bronze rust in spring, becomes bright green in summer. It sometimes takes on red to purple tones due to the cold in autumn and winter. In February-March, reasonably early depending on the region, numerous small fragrant flowers appear, gathered in generous pyramidal clusters, bright yellow in color, measuring 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in). Loved by bees, these nectar-rich flowers give way to pretty clusters of somewhat decorative blackish-blue berries. Some songbirds are fond of these slightly tart little fruits.

Perfectly hardy, tolerant of summer drought and limestone soils, tolerant of the roots of large trees, the 'Pinnacle' Mahonia is a colorful, fragrant, and accommodating shrub, which one should consider to bring color to the garden in all seasons. Resistant to wind and urban pollution, it tolerates full sun in cool regions or fairly dense shade in hot climates. Few bushes boast as many qualities that make it almost indispensable in the garden. The Mahonia x wagneri, like its parents, is highly adaptable and tolerates pruning well, in a hedge for example. It can be used as a standalone in a small garden, in a shrub bed, as a defensive hedge, or even in a container on the terrace. Berberis and Sarcococca will be good companions in the shade of large trees. In a Mediterranean-style themed bed, for example, it can be associated with Garrya elliptica James Roof, Prunus illicifolia, and persistent ceanothes, all native to the California.

Tip: Do not plant too tightly in beds, as it prefers an airy environment and spreads somewhat through suckers, without being invasive.