FIVE MARVELLOUS MAHONIAS

1 ‘CABARET’

A 4ft mound of holly-like leaves is topped with sprays of orange-red buds and yellow flowers, above, from August to November.

2 ‘SOFT CARESS’

The first mahonia with spinefree leaves, it was named Plant of the Year at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show.

3 ‘HIVERNANT’

From late autumn until early spring, this muscular shrub turns heads and noses with its arching racemes of scented yellow flowers.

4 ‘WINTER SUN’

A robust shrub that can reach 15ft or more, producing large spikes of fragrant flowers from November to March.

5 ‘VOLCANO’

This newcomer forms a 5ft dome of spine-free, fern-like foliage and is crowned with sprays of orange and yellow flowers in late autumn.