Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Soft-leaved Mahonia (Oregon Grape)

Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor'

£29.49 £34.99 SAVE 15%
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
19cm / 3L £29.49

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Description

Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor' is the spineless, soft-leaved mahonia that finally makes this useful evergreen a pleasure to plant and to pass. From the same prickle-free family as the popular Soft Caress, 'Meteor' is a touch more compact and upright, forming a neat, rounded bush of fine, almost fern-like foliage with none of the vicious spines older mahonias are known for. It is a modern architectural shrub that brings texture and structure to shade where little else will.

Rated RHS H5, it is fully hardy across most of the UK and reliably evergreen, holding its slender leaflets through winter. New growth flushes a striking bright red in spring and summer before deepening to rich green, and from late summer into autumn it sends up plentiful spires of honey-scented yellow flowers just as most of the garden is winding down. These are followed by dusky blue-black berries that draw in late pollinators, making it a genuine four-season performer.

Water well through the first couple of summers to settle the roots, after which it is refreshingly low-maintenance. Its soft, spine-free foliage makes it perfect for planting beside paths and seating, so it slots naturally into shady borders, exotic border schemes and pots and containers alike. The autumn flowers are a magnet for bees, earning it a place among our plants for pollinators, while its clean, layered form sits comfortably in any architectural foliage planting. For more on how hardy exotics settle in through the seasons, see our what to expect guide.

Every Mahonia 'Meteor' we supply is nursery-grown and part of our wider hardy exotics range, carefully selected for a healthy, well-branched shape and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Soft-leaved Mahonia (Oregon Grape)

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Soft-leaved Mahonia (Oregon Grape)

Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor' needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H5 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −15°C

fully hardy to roughly -15C once established, with no routine winter protection needed.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered

partial shade is ideal, though it is happy in full sun and copes in any aspect, including north-facing borders.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any fertile, moist but well-drained soil, from chalk to clay, across the full pH range.

Watering

Water regularly through the first two summers to build a strong root system, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged. Once established it is low-maintenance and naturally tidy. An annual spring mulch and a light balanced feed keep growth steady, and pruning is minimal, just shorten any leggy or misplaced stems after the autumn flowers fade. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first two summers to build a strong root system, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged. Once established it is low-maintenance and naturally tidy. An annual spring mulch and a light balanced feed keep growth steady, and pruning is minimal, just shorten any leggy or misplaced stems after the autumn flowers fade.

Mature size

Height1-1.5 m
Spread1-1.5 m

Reaches full size in 5-10 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

Aug-Nov · Yellow

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Spineless, soft-leaved mahonia that needs minimal pruning. Simply tidy any leggy or misplaced stems after the autumn flowers fade to keep the bush neat and well-branched.

Toxicity

Unlike spiny mahonias this cultivar is spine-free and safe to brush past. The berries are ornamental rather than edible, and all parts may cause mild stomach upset if eaten, so wash hands after handling and keep fruit away from small children and pets.

Native range

China

Family

Berberidaceae

Also known as

Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor'

Genus

Mahonia →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mahonia 'Meteor' have spines?

No. Mahonia eurybracteata 'Meteor' is a spineless, soft-leaved mahonia, so unlike traditional prickly types you can plant it beside paths, seats and doorways without sharp leaves to catch on. Its fine, fern-like foliage is completely safe to brush past, which is a big part of why it is so popular.

Where is the best place to plant Mahonia 'Meteor'?

It is happiest in partial shade but tolerates full sun, and it will grow in any aspect, including north-facing borders where choice is limited. Give it fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It is ideal for shady borders and works beautifully in pots and containers by a shaded seating area.

How big does Mahonia 'Meteor' grow?

It is a compact, slow-growing shrub, reaching roughly 1 to 1.5 m in both height and spread over about 5 to 10 years. Its neat, rounded, upright habit keeps it in proportion in smaller gardens and makes it a reliable piece of architectural foliage that rarely needs much attention.

When does Mahonia 'Meteor' flower, and is it evergreen?

Yes, it is fully evergreen and holds its foliage all winter. From late summer into autumn, usually August to November, it produces upright spires of honey-scented yellow flowers just as the rest of the garden fades, followed by blue-black berries. New spring and summer growth also flushes bright red, so it earns its keep in every season.

How does Mahonia 'Meteor' compare to Soft Caress and Volcano?

All three are modern spine-free mahonias. 'Soft Caress' has the finest, most thread-like leaves but is the least cold-hardy. 'Volcano' is taller and more upright. 'Meteor' sits between them, a touch more compact than 'Volcano' with excellent hardiness (RHS H5) and the same friendly, spineless foliage, making it one of the most garden-worthy of our hardy exotics.

Should you prune Mahonia 'Meteor'?

Very little pruning is needed. It falls into RHS pruning Group 8, the early-flowering evergreens that are best left largely alone. Simply tidy any leggy, damaged or misplaced stems after the flowers fade, cutting back to a healthy leaf joint to keep the bush dense and well-shaped. There is no need for hard annual pruning.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor'
£29.49 £34.99