Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolia) and Jackpot Tansy (Tanacetum niveum)
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Holly Peterson
Posted on: January 28, 2004

What size Mahonia aquifolia does Richters ship and what height and spread is it capable of in Nova Scotia-Halifax, Canada area, Zone 5b.

We ship plants that fit into our shipping cartons and are therefore under 15 centimeters tall (6 inches). The shrublet will get about 60 cm (2 feet) tall and starts out about half as wide, but then later may produce some runners and very gradually increase in spread that way. I have a plant in my rock garden that has made a loose one metre wide (3 foot) thicket in the 20 years it grew at the spot. We are in zone 4, so it may do better in your garden, because it won’t get winter damage in severe winters.

The Jackpot tansy how tall does it get, how wide? I need something for a difficult spot I believe is affected by maple tree roots or something that is creating a fine mat of roots and very demanding.

Maple tree roots do precisely what you are noticing! You might want to dig a hole cutting out the roots, line it with plastic and fill with sandy soil and heap soil up so it projects above the plastic. The Jackpot tansy tends to act like a biennual in my garden, but may be more perennial in your milder climate. It makes a lovely mound of white flowers the second year from seed. The mound is about 30 centimeters (one foot) tall and wide. The plant needs full sun to bloom properly.

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