Topic: Japanese Wind Bush

[yvonne mcd]

I have had what I believe to be a Japanese wind bush in my garden for 13 years now and despite regular feeding it is producing less and less leaves each season. This year it is bordering on bald. Can anyone advise me as to whether I should prune it back or not, or offer me any tips to restore it to it's former glory?  ???

Many thanks.

[beejay]

I have no idea what a Japanese Wind Bush is. Can you enlighten me?

[jennym]

Do you mean japanese wind flower? Anemone x hybrida...
Never heard of bush.

[Palustris]

Nothing comes up on any search engine under this name either.

[Amazin]

If it's Japanese Anemone, it should be coming up all over the place - they're notorious for it.

[yvonne mcd]

Thank you for the responses  :)

The bush in question has grown to about 3' tall and has holly-like leaves (although not as sharp) which turn shades of red and orange; it also produces small purple berries. I was told years ago that it was a wind bush, but am too much of an amateur to hazard a guess at what it's real name is. If anyone recognises this description, please could you let me know?

Thank you.

[Palustris]

Wind bush in Britain is another name for Furze or Gorse! I cannot find any Ulex species from Japan though!

[jennym]

It's not a Mahonia is it? the holly-like leaves are distributed in sprays from a main stem, and turn reddish orange when old. Sprays of yellow flowers in winter, berries dull green turning to dull purple? When you cut the stem, it's bright yellow?

[ndkc2003]

Could be a majonia or could be a form of berberis - has it flowered at all?
Donna.

[yvonne mcd]

Thank you again for the replies and suggestions; i think jennym has hit the nail on the head and my rather bedraggled 'wind bush' is in fact a mahonia of some kind. Can anyone advise me if it's ok to prune mahonias? I need to do something drastic before it goes completely bald  :'(

[Palustris]

The short answer is yes, you may prune Mahonia, quite severely too, if you need to, but that does not really answer the question as to why it is growing so poorly. Ours grow a good 2 to 3 feet every year. They do like a bit of shade, dappled for preference as they are woodland shrubs, perhaps yours is getting too much direct sunlight?