In the Mahonia 'Charity' instance, I am curious as to how the plant grows and if it regenerates broken bloom stalks or when it does get a few broken, if that stimulates growth elsewhere on the plant. I noticed some roof and gutter cleaners put ladders up near mine, planted only about 2 months ago, and in their speed and enthusiasm for the job obviously broke off several of the bloom stalks, in my absence. Grrr-rr. Since they are nice fellows I did not want to complain. Will the breaks stimulate new stems to generate from further down, possibly? The plant is young and was purchased with only one stem, but something seems to be coming out and up at the side about half-way up. Unfortunately this is planted in the shade, pretty constant shade -- I don't mind it staying smallish, if that is what the shade will do. I may have to move it if the forthcoming year is not kind to it... I would like the yellow bloom stalks to brighten my super-shady entrance-way.
Loss of flowers will not stimulate vegetative growth. Mature shape of this cultivar a sort of candelabra of multiple stems from down low, with tufts of foliage on the ends - in the manner of Fatsia japonica. Can sprout from lower down if cut back to that point.
Thanks, Ron, I think that is what it is doing from a lower area of the stem, but I am not sure... something is arising out of the single stem about a foot from the ground and about a foot below most of the branches -- it is not "suckering" as we understand it, not yet anyway.
