Mahonia (aquifolium)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) lee.riley@usda.gov

---

Family Scientific Name:	Berberidaceae
Family Common Name:	Barberry
Scientific Name:	Mahonia aquifolium
Common Name:	Hollyleaf barberry
Species Code:	MAAQ2
Ecotype:	Mt Hood and Willamette National Forests, Oregon
General Distribution:	USA: CA , DC , ID , KY , MI , MT , NJ , NY , OH , OR , WA Canada: BC Native Distribution: British Columbia to Idaho and northwest Montana, south to northern CA Native Habitat: Deep, conifer forests; open, rocky woods
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	444 ml (27 in3) container
Time To Grow:	22 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Ripe fruits may be pick by hand, using heavy gloves, or flailed onto cloth beneath the bushes. Seeds should not be allowed to dry out after collection.
Propagule Processing:	Berries should be stored in a plastic bag at ~4 °C until extraction, within 2 weeks or so to prevent mold growth. Macerate berries in mortar and pestle as gently as possible. Check seeds regularly to ensure seeds are not being cracked or otherwise damaged. Add water to pestle to mix, and pour mixture in beaker. Add sufficient water. Water to berry mixture should be 3:1. Add pectinase (approximately 1 table spoon per liter) to volume and stir. Leave mixture at room temperature for 24 hours. Most seeds should sink to bottom if filled and properly macerated initially. Pour off top layer while gently mixing, or adding water from a faucet. Do not mix so violently that seed rises in the water column, but just enough that berry skin begins to float and pour off the non-seed debris. When seeds are as clean as possible, pour wet seed onto paper towel and allow to dry. Pick out debris with tweezers. Dry to <38% RH. Store at 4 °C.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are placed into fine mesh bags and soaked in a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 48 hours. Seeds are placed in a sealed container and into warm stratification (10 °C) for 45 days. Following warm stratification, seeds are layered in peat and placed into cold stratification (1 to 3 °C) for an additional 70 days. It is very important to check seeds in warm strat and peat weekly. If mold is evident, seeds should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Seeds are directly sown into containers. Seeds are lightly covered with nursery grit. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Apex controlled release fertilizer (16N:5P2O5:10K2O with minors; 6 to 7 month release rate at 21C) at the rate of 2 gram Apex per 444 ml container.
Establishment Phase:	Germination is not uniform, and can take up to 4 weeks to be complete. During that time, plants may be lightly fertilized with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 75 ppm.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 to 5 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are slow-growing, sometimes requiring 2 full growing seasons if cultured in this size container. However, plants can reach target specifications if fertilized heavily throughout the growing season. Soluble fertilizer (20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK) at 150 ppm is applied weekly throughout the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	18 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in mid-September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	3 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Mid to late October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.
Other Comments:	Wetland classification: FACU
References:	Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. nd. Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAAQ2 (accessed 8 Oct 2018). [NRCS] USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. Hollyleaved barberry. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MAAQ2 (accessed 8 Oct 2018).

Citation:

Smith, Haley S.; Riley, Lee E.; Klocke, Allison. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Mahonia aquifolium Plants 444 ml (27 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/11/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.