How to Pollinate Oregon Grape Holly
Oregon grape holly, Mahonia aquifolium, is actually not a grape or a holly. It's an evergreen shrub that belongs to the barberry plant family. The foliage changes color in winter, with leaves turning from dark green to deep purplish-red. Small, yellow flowers bloom on the Oregon grape holly in winter. The blue berries do not ripen until June. Neither flowers nor berries will appear on the plant unless pollination occurs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant at least two Oregon grape holly bushes for cross-pollination. Oregon grape holly is propagated through seeds, cuttings and division.
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Place Oregon grape holly in a site where it will receive partial to full shade and well-draining soil. Healthy Oregon grape holly is more likely to attract bees, which are essential in pollination.
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Add bumblebee-attracting flowers to the garden, planting them near Oregon grape holly plants. Blue lobelia, wild lupine, white wild indigo and yellow hyssop attract bumblebees.
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Plant flowers to attract honeybees to Oregon grape holly plants. Wild bergamot, coneflower and goldenrod draw honeybees to the garden.
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Plant columbine, butterfly weed and milkweed to attract other types of bees to the garden, including long-tongued and short-tongued bees.
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Tips & Warnings
Bees are necessary in the natural process of pollination, the transfer of pollen from male flowers to female flowers, in Oregon grape holly plants.
Oregon grape holly will not produce flowers and fruits normally if it is damaged by weather, pests or other problems.
