Chinese grape shrub Mahonia 'Soft Caress' yellow - Hardy plant

This shrub will do well planted in part or full shade.

Moisten the roots of Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ before planting - soak them in a bucket with lukewarm water. Prepare a spacious hole and loosen the soil. Plant the mahonia root ball at the right depth in the hole - the top of the root ball should be just slightly below ground level. Refill the hole and heel well in. Water immediately after planting. Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ will thrive in fertile, humus rich soil that is not too dry. Improve poor garden soil with compost and well-rotted manure. Mahonia bush with other plants The yellow flowers of Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ complement other yellow winter flowerers in the garden, like winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) and the yellow witchhazel (Hamamelis ‘Boskoop’). Or you could choose to plant with other evergreens like Buxus, Camellia and Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’, or conifers. It is also ideal as a solitary feature and for planting in the (shady) border.

The strong Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ requires very little maintenance. This strong shrub grows quite easily in the garden. With very severe frost the leaves can become somewhat unsightly - you can cut them back in the spring. Pruning is otherwise unnecessary.

A mulch of compost and well-rotted manure will be appreciated in the winter. Water well in dry periods. Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ in the winter This Chinese variety is less hardy than the common mahonia. It will thank you for some protection from more severe frost which could possibly affect the leaves. These can be pruned in the spring.

Evergreen Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ flowers as early as November with striking yellow flowers. The flowers of this fine, almost fern-like leafed mahonia bush appear in deliciously smelling racemes. Flowers will be followed by beautiful blue berries on reddish stems. These berries are rather bitter but are fit for human consumption and full of vitamin C.

The delicate leaves remains on this thornless shrub all year long, staying surprisingly soft compared to other varieties of mahonia! A real asset to the winter garden and just a joy to behold all year round!