This is a Mahonia x media “Charity” and it’s a haven for the hummingbirds. In the middle of Winter it’s hard for the little guys to find good food, but this is one place they can always get it. It’s not uncommon to see several of them at one time on this bush. Later on the flowers will turn into blue berries that are treats for other birds. All in all it’s a good plant for the bird lovers among us, tho it’s not so friendly to people. It lives along a path to the greenhouse with the ferns and you have to be careful or it’ll stick you badly. Still it’s so beautiful that it’s worth the risk. It grows pretty fast too. It’s been in the yard for about 6 years and is 8′ tall. It’s in the Berberidaceae family, and is related to the barberries, various Oregon grapes and the nandinas. It’s a cool family with lots of colorful plants and many of them have good food for the birds as well. Check it out and enjoy!
Gardening in Greenwood 