Does anybody else grow Mahonia x media 'Charity'? My six year old plant is in glorious flower now and it is covered in blue tits. It's an extremely colourful sight, which is great considering how dreary the weather is. I remember reading last winter that this plant attracts blue tits, can't remember what it is specifically that attracts them, something about the flowers. I would recommend it as a plant for anybody who is planning a wildlife garden.
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Mahonia and blue tits (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter florall
- Start date
Hi florall
I myself have just planted a mahonia aquafolium (oregon grape) for the wildlife interest mainly the berries.
Behaviour like this is always a treat to watch I think. Two reasons for the Blue tit invasion I would think, although I am sure there are more. Firstly Blue tits are known to seek out and eat/drink the nectar which your mahonia gives out in large amounts coupled with the fact not much else would give out much nectar at this time of year.
Secondly if I remember right some birds incl tits and sparrows are attracted particularly to the colour yellow. A lot of early crocus are damaged with birds eating and covorting in the yellow flowers in search of a particular substance that is abundant in yellow flowers. I am sure others will clarify this but i hope it helps a little.
I am looking forward to seeing my Mahonia mature although mine is spring flowering. How do the berries go down with the birds by the way? They always look good to eat to me!
I myself have just planted a mahonia aquafolium (oregon grape) for the wildlife interest mainly the berries.
Behaviour like this is always a treat to watch I think. Two reasons for the Blue tit invasion I would think, although I am sure there are more. Firstly Blue tits are known to seek out and eat/drink the nectar which your mahonia gives out in large amounts coupled with the fact not much else would give out much nectar at this time of year.
Secondly if I remember right some birds incl tits and sparrows are attracted particularly to the colour yellow. A lot of early crocus are damaged with birds eating and covorting in the yellow flowers in search of a particular substance that is abundant in yellow flowers. I am sure others will clarify this but i hope it helps a little.
I am looking forward to seeing my Mahonia mature although mine is spring flowering. How do the berries go down with the birds by the way? They always look good to eat to me!
IanF
Moderator
We have a M.m Charity that is about 12 years old now. I prune it back pretty hard each year and it keeps throwing out more stems and flowers. There are 16 or 18 on ours this winter on a 7' high bush though we gt two lots of flowers each year.
As you say the Blue Tits love it and each winter a few Blackcaps always appear on it, a bird we don't normally get in the garden.
I must admit that I always thought it was the bugs the Blue Tits were after, but the mention of the nectar certainly fits in with explaining why they pull off the flower heads leaving a yellow carpet on the ground below. The berries go down well too with the Blackbirds.
As you say the Blue Tits love it and each winter a few Blackcaps always appear on it, a bird we don't normally get in the garden.
I must admit that I always thought it was the bugs the Blue Tits were after, but the mention of the nectar certainly fits in with explaining why they pull off the flower heads leaving a yellow carpet on the ground below. The berries go down well too with the Blackbirds.
Gerry Hooper
Certified User
Mahonias are looking great at the moment aren't they.
They work well in shade, and in clay, so they're really useful. Bit prickly though.
I havent noticed any Blue tits on the flowers, do they do it everywhere, or could it be a local thing?
They work well in shade, and in clay, so they're really useful. Bit prickly though.
I havent noticed any Blue tits on the flowers, do they do it everywhere, or could it be a local thing?
James Blake
chasing the shadow of a lowskimming gull
I have a Mahonia which is just coming into flower. Last January it was very popular with a Blackcap, which I think was after the nectar - Blue tits were less frequent visitors.
IanF
Moderator
Yours is certainly looking healthy enough! It's definitely a Mahonia and it looks to me like it is 'Charity' but there are several varities and I'm not an expert on them.
We have only a small garden so as it gets a bit too big I just lop some off usually around April time. That causes it to send out new shoots each carrying more flowers.
We have only a small garden so as it gets a bit too big I just lop some off usually around April time. That causes it to send out new shoots each carrying more flowers.
Last edited:
helenol said:
Yes, I do cut off some prickly bits. They do get very big if you don't prune. I've just asked my daughter, who's a horticulture student, if you can cut them hard back, and she says that as a general rule of thumb, if a plant grows vigorously, you can cut it back hard and it shouldn't mind.
Thanks Gavid.David FG said:
I am really hoping the Mahonia makes something of itself. Its in a mostly clay/damp/shady area and its supposed to be a good self fertile variety....time will tell!
I have tried to plant a mini hedge this season including
2 viburnum opulus "compactum"
1 Tutsan
1 Mahonia
1 Himalayan honeysuckle
1 Cotoneaster simonssi
3 Pyracantha(various)
1 Berberis Darwinii
1 Bird cherry
I don't know about others but I get a little impatient as I buy only small plants so they seem to take forever to start looking and being useful.....I guess thats half the fun.
Gerry Hooper
Certified User
That's a good combination Stephen, plenty to keep the birds happy.
Are you hoping for a few Waxwings or something?
Are you hoping for a few Waxwings or something?
Yeaaaaahhhhhh right Gerry! Thanks for the encouragement though.Gerry Hooper said:That's a good combination Stephen, plenty to keep the birds happy.
Are you hoping for a few Waxwings or something?
To be truthful we get quite a few Redwings and the odd Fieldfare which I have noticed in other gardens close to mine but I have never really had any natural food to entice them in, despite the truck loads of sultanas I throw out.
It took time tracking down some of the plants which I was surprised about.
Thanks again and who knows!
