Oregon Grape (Mahonia Aquifolium) 20 seeds (#420)

Oregon grape holly, an upright evergreen shrub, is native to the area from British Colombia south to northern California and not a true holly but more closely related to barberries. The stems are rarely branched and arise directly from underground, running stems. The leaves are pinnate or feather-like and attach directly to the stem. Leaflets are glossy, leathery, stiff, ovate, and have several sharp spines. The color is deep, dark green turning red to purple in the winter. Showy, yellow flowers are small, held in dense, un-branched stalks at the ends of the branches and appear in the spring. Dark blue-black berries follow the flowers and resemble cluster grapes, giving the plant its common name.
Grape holly is a shade loving plant, but will grow in sunnier conditions is soil is moist. The soil should be cool, fertile, but well-drained and on the acid side. However, it will tolerate drought and poor conditions once established. Oregon grape holly is damaged by cold, drying winds. Prune to control height by removing stems at ground level, though it will tolerate shearing when used in hedges. Mahonia aquifolium has become naturalized in some areas outside its native range such as Australia and is considered and invasive species. Use Oregon grape holly in masses for foundation plantings, woodland interfaces, hedges or in containers.

Genus - Mahonia
Species - Aquifolium
Common name - Oregon Grape
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 6 - 8
Height - 3'-6' / 1 - 2 m
Spread - 3'-5' / 0.90 - 1.50 m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, laom, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
Bloom season - Spring, early summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Yellow

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Soak in water for 24 hours.
2. Place the grape seeds between two moist paper towels. Put the paper towels in a freezer bag inside the drawer of your refrigerator for 3 months. This encourages germination of the seeds.
3. Fill nursery trays three-quarters full with an all-purpose potting mix. Remove the seeds and place them in the nursery pots. Cover the seeds lightly with potting mix. Water the seeds regularly to keep the soil moist and keep them in a cool location for at least a year.
4. Transplant the seedlings into their permanent location in the garden in the spring. Plant the seedlings in a location that gets at least eight hours of sunlight a day.