![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kintaline.co.uk\/livinglarders\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Mahonia-house-side-20221226_151037-225x300.jpg\")
Mahonia aquifolium brings us a beautiful bright winter sweet smelling bloom, so vital for the pollinators out on warm winter days above evergreen prickly leaves.
\nThen later the “berries” are edible.
\nI want this to be spread all over the farm copses.<\/p>\n
It likes growing in semi shade, but has a tendancy to grow tall and straggly if not pruned regularly, and to propagate there needs to be young growth in the late spring and summer.<\/p>\n
So the early Spring is a good time to prune those tall leggy branches, cannot reach the berries and it will trigger new growth to create cuttings to spread the love around.<\/p>\n
The flowers can be used to make a lemonade like drink
\nThe berries can be used to make wine too.<\/p>\n
The wood of the Mahonia is remarkably yellow, but it splits easily as it dries, but some wood turners have used it.
\nIt makes decent kindling sticks. Keep a little in your pocket as a talisman.<\/p>\n
Other names are Oregon Grape.<\/p>\n
It is a useful herbal plant too both medicinally and spiritually. All the more reason to plant more.<\/p>\n
Mahonia was traditionally used by Native Americans to treat fevers, indigestion, gout, rheumatic and renal and biliary disease. Today, modern herbal medicine uses the roots, rhizomes and sometime the fruit mainly for psoriasis, eczema and gastritis. Modern research has found that mahonia contains alkaloids which are powerful antimicrobial and antifungal agents, and which inhibit the growth of abnormal skin cells, which explains its more modern successful use for skin diseases.
\nEuropean folklore mentions mahonia used as a form of spiritual protection; three branches were placed over a threshold to keep enemies away, and a small piece would be carried on a person as a talisman, providing defense against negative energies and promoting positivity. \u00a0 Roots to Health website<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nEat weeds Edible blog – https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eatweedsuk\/videos\/1259851184565193\/<\/a><\/p>\n
More herbal information http:\/\/www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net\/herbs\/m\/mahonia-aquifolium=oregon-grape.php<\/a><\/p>\n