Soft Caress Mahonia: Care, Size & Growing Zones
About Soft Caress Mahonia
Soft Caress Mahonia has soft, threadlike foliage without sharp spines, giving this evergreen shrub a feathery, almost fernlike appearance. Selected in 2001 from a small group of seedlings for its foliage and uniform habit, it has slender, blue-green leaves divided into narrow leaflets rather than the broad, prickly foliage often associated with this plant group. Its foliage remains through winter, when bright yellow flowers rise above the leaves in early winter; blue berries follow the blooms, adding another season of color. Soft Caress Mahonia attracts birds and butterflies and received the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year award. Its fine-textured foliage lends itself to Asian-style gardens and specimen use, while its evergreen habit also suits foundation plantings. In containers it serves as a foliage accent, and in mass plantings its repeated, feathery leaves create a consistent texture. For more information on Soft Caress Mahonia, visit the Southern Living Plants website.
Propagation & Planting
Plant Soft Caress Mahonia any time during the growing season, preferably in spring through early summer or in late summer to early fall, allowing time for roots to establish before winter. Choose a location in partial to full shade. Use fertile, moist, well-drained soil. For an in-ground bed, incorporate a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic matter across the planting area before digging, and leave enough room between plants and nearby structures for normal mature growth. Water the plant thoroughly while it is still in its nursery pot. Dig a hole about twice the pot’s width and shallow enough that the top of the root ball will sit 1 to 2 inches above the surrounding soil. Carefully slide off the pot, gently spread loose circling roots outward, and cut roots that remain tightly encircling the root ball. Position the plant upright, backfill around the root ball with soil, and water deeply to settle it. Add more soil around the sides if settling leaves gaps, without burying the top of the root ball. Finish with a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch, keeping the area immediately around the stems clear. For container planting, choose a pot with drainage holes and fill it with a well-drained commercial potting mix rather than garden soil. Keep the plant at its original nursery-pot depth, with the root crown, where the upper roots meet the stems, at or slightly above the mix surface. Water thoroughly after planting and place the container in partial to full shade. This plant has patented genetics so propagation is prohibited.
Attracts
Resistances
Tolerances
Soft Caress Mahonia FAQs
How much sun does Soft Caress Mahonia need?
Plant it in part to full shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 7A to 9B.
Does Soft Caress Mahonia have spines?
No. Unlike most mahonias, Soft Caress has soft, threadlike leaves without sharp spines, giving it a feathery, almost fernlike look.
When does Soft Caress Mahonia bloom?
Bright yellow flowers rise above the evergreen foliage in early winter, followed by blue berries. The plant attracts birds and butterflies.
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