Mahonia is a genus of around 70 species of evergreen shrubs native to many parts of the world including Asia, the Himalaya, Central America and of course, we have several native varieties in our own forests including aquifolium, repens and nervosa. These amazing evergreen plants are in the Berberidaceae family with their yellow roots and lovely yellow, terminal clusters or spreading racemes that brighten any yard in the darkest parts of winter. Black berries appear after blooming, which feed the birds. Mahonias are drought tolerant but prefer protection from hot afternoon sun and need summer water until established. Occasional watering during dry weather will help plants in sun to maintain a rich green foliage color. Prune the tips in early spring, while the plant in young, to make a fuller bushier specimen. Older plants need little pruning other than the removal of dead, broken or poorly formed limbs. They are also deer resistant. Very frost hardy, to 0 °F.

Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun': Large, frond-like leaves develop in whorls along its coarsely branched stems. Great sprays of fragrant, yellow flowers in dense, upstanding inflorescences develop in late fall or early winter. Flowers develop into clusters of waxy black berries by late summer and autumn. 'Winter Sun' was selected at Slieve Donard Nursery in Ireland in 1966. With a mature height of 10 feet, it has a more compact growth habit and more fragrance than its related cultivars, adding a lovely focal point to the winter garden.