This superior Mahonia bealei form was a very treasured plant grown by the late Edward Needham, where it flourished carefully protected in his quarry garden. Most regular bealei varieties lose the spectacular glaucous leaf underside once they have grown on and matured, but not this character as can be seen in this image. It also turns out that it is pretty tough like most other Asian Mahonia spp. and doesn’t mind full sun and more exposure than where he grew it. The plant illustrated below is grown under a high deciduous canopy and flowers well every year in this type of location here in the south west even with our limited hours of sunshine.
The clonal name “Cornish Silver” has been coined for this selection and if anyone has room or the desire to grow bealei, then this is the one to search out, as it has been propagated by several nurseries and is available in the trade now.
