Charity Hybrid Mahonia
Best evergreen for gardeners seeking year round beauty with minimal upkeep.
This evergreen shrub provides striking architectural foliage and a rare winter bloom, offering color when the garden is otherwise dormant. It grows tall and upright, serving as an excellent living screen or a backdrop for shade-loving plants. Its yellow flowers appear from late fall through winter, followed by ornamental blue-black berries. This plant is a reliable choice for year-round structure and off-season interest, bringing unique appeal to any landscape.
$164.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
930
/ 3363
#930 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+292%
Above average
Botanical Name
Mahonia x media 'Charity'
/ Mahonia x media 'Charity'
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking vibrant color and fragrance during the bleak winter season
- Busy homeowners desiring a striking, low-maintenance plant for their landscape
- Nature enthusiasts wanting to support local wildlife with a beautiful garden addition
Who should skip it
- Gardeners with limited space or those preferring compact, contained plantings
- Families with small children or pets, and those with high-traffic garden paths
- Gardeners preferring soft, informal designs over bold, architectural statements
Performance breakdown
Winter Interest
Rare seasonal blooms provide vibrant color when most gardens are dormant.
Architectural Impact
Bold, spiny foliage creates a striking structural focal point year-round.
Maintenance Ease
Reliable, low-fuss growth habit requires minimal intervention once established.
Wildlife Appeal
Ornamental berries effectively draw birds into the landscape during colder months.
Screening Capability
Tall, upright growth makes it an ideal natural privacy barrier.
Deer Resistance
Spiny leaves generally deter browsing, though not entirely foolproof.
Key Specs
Botanical Name
Mahonia x media 'Charity'
Common Name
Charity Hybrid Mahonia
Mature Height
15.0 feet
Mature Spread
12.0 feet
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Soil Type
Humus-rich, Well-drained
Water Requirement
Moderate
USDA Hardiness Zones
Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Know before you buy
This is a large, upright shrub that can reach a mature height of 15 feet and a spread of 12 feet. Because of its significant size, make sure to plant it in a spot where it has plenty of room to grow without crowding nearby structures or pathways.
The Charity Hybrid Mahonia is best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9. If you live in an area with extreme winters outside of these zones, it may struggle to thrive.
Yes, it is prized for its rare winter interest. You can expect bright yellow flower spikes to emerge from late fall through the winter months, providing color when most other garden plants are dormant.
While no plant is completely deer-proof, the Charity Hybrid Mahonia is generally considered deer resistant. Its spiny-edged, holly-like leaflets are typically unappealing to deer, making it a safer choice for gardens where wildlife pressure is a concern.
This shrub is quite adaptable and can handle anything from full sun to partial shade. However, in hotter climates, it will appreciate some protection from the harsh afternoon sun to keep its foliage looking its best.
The Charity Hybrid Mahonia is a low-maintenance plant that naturally maintains an upright, architectural form. You generally won't need to prune it heavily, though you can lightly trim it after flowering if you need to control its size or shape.
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$165