Soft Caress Mahonia

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'

Soft Caress Mahonia is a shrub for focal point, structure, suited to shade and partial shade and loam or acid soil, flowering May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Where to use it in a border

At around 90 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 90 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 7a to 9b and rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, acid soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Soft Caress Mahonia's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
• It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Allegheny Spurgeto edge in front
• Appalachian Sedgeto edge in front
• Cavatine Japanese Andromedato flower when it does not
• Cherokee Sedgeto edge in front
• Creeping Oregon Grapeto edge in front
• Creeping Phlox 'Sherwood Purple'to edge in front

Garden styles

Foundation planting Shade cottage Woodland