Mahonia Magical Winterfern Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Mahonia

Mahonia Magical Winterfern

£44.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
21cm / 4L £44.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Mahonia Magical Winterfern is a compact evergreen with leaves that look more like a hardy fern than a holly. Long, finely divided leaves are held in neat tiers around upright stems, and from late autumn each stem is crowned with upright spikes of scented yellow flowers that carry on into midwinter.

Hardiness and seasons. A recent introduction from a Dutch breeder, it has no RHS rating yet. It is sold as winter hardy, and we class it as H5, to around -15C. Flowers open from October or November into January, a valuable source of nectar for winter bees, and blue-black berries can follow. The leaves are spiny but much softer than on most mahonias.

Where it fits. This is a true shade plant. Give it a north- or east-facing spot in humus-rich soil that stays moist. At about 1 to 1.5m after ten years, it suits a shady border, a woodland edge or a large pot by a north-facing door. See the rest of our mahonias.

What you receive: a young evergreen plant in a 21cm (4L) pot.

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 Mahonia

Give me sun with a little shade 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 Mahonia

Mahonia Magical Winterfern needs partial shade or full shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

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

Not yet rated by the RHS. The breeder sells it as winter hardy and we class it as H5, to around -15C. It keeps its leaves all winter and flowers through the coldest months. Pots are more exposed to frost than plants in the ground, so move them against a wall in a hard freeze. See what to expect through the seasons.

Position

Partial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facing

Partial to full shade suits it best, and it is happiest out of hot afternoon sun. North-, east- and west-facing beds work well, as does the dappled shade under trees. Its tiered, fern-like leaves give a lush, layered look among other shade plants, and it pairs well with taller mahonias such as Mahonia x media Charity or the narrow-leaved Soft Caress.

Soil

LoamMoist but well-drained

It wants humus-rich, woodland-type soil that stays moist but drains freely. Dig in plenty of leaf mould or garden compost at planting and mulch each spring. In a pot, use a loam-based compost with added organic matter and do not let it dry out.

Watering

Keep moist through the first year and in dry spells, especially in pots. Mulch each spring. Read moreShow less

Keep moist through the first year and in dry spells, especially in pots. Mulch each spring.

Mature size

Height1-1.5 m after 10 years
Spread0.75-1 m

Reaches full size in 10-20 years

Growth habit

Columnar/upright

Flowering

Oct-Jan · Yellow

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Remove any damaged or untidy stems after flowering has finished in late winter.

Toxicity

The ASPCA lists Mahonia as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The leaves are spiny, though softer than most mahonias, so wear gloves when handling.

Native range

Garden cultivar introduced by Kolster BV, Boskoop, Netherlands; parentage unpublished (genus native to Asia and the Americas)

Family

Berberidaceae

Also known as

Mahonia Magical Winterfern

Genus

Mahonia →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of mahonia is Magical Winterfern?

It is a recent introduction from the Dutch breeder Kolster, sold in their Magical Garden Plants range. Its cultivar name is 'Kolmawifer'; Magical Winterfern is the trade name. The parent species has not been published. With its tiered leaves and late autumn to winter flowers it resembles the Mahonia x media group, such as Charity, more than the narrow-leaved eurybracteata types.

Does Mahonia grow in shade?

Yes. Magical Winterfern is a true shade plant and does best in partial to full shade, out of hot afternoon sun, in humus-rich soil. More ideas are in our plants for shade.

When does Mahonia Magical Winterfern flower?

Upright spikes of lightly scented yellow flowers open from October or November and last into January. Few plants flower then, so bees make good use of it. See more winter-flowering plants.

How big does Mahonia Magical Winterfern get?

It is compact: about 1 to 1.5m tall and 75cm to 1m wide after ten years.

Is Mahonia poisonous to dogs?

The ASPCA lists Mahonia as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The leaves are spiny, so it is still best kept away from paths where children and pets play.

Can Mahonia Magical Winterfern grow in a pot?

Yes, its compact size makes it a good choice for a large container in a shady spot. Use a loam-based compost rich in organic matter, keep it moist, and move the pot against a wall in a hard freeze. Browse more plants for pots.

Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.

If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.

If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
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 7 days 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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Perfect for Gifting

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.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

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

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Mahonia Magical Winterfern
£44.99