Mahonia x. media ‘Winter Sun’ is a real performer in the garden. This hybrid of two Asian species flowers from late fall well into winter. The Anna's hummingbird which stays here year around delights in feeding off the showy yellow flowers, during the shortest days of the year. Beautiful glaucous blue fruit follows flowering, while intense bronze to copper new growth in the spring adds yet another element of viewing pleasure. This plant and its various siblings have been hard to find until recently. Drought tolerant when established, these mahonia prefer a siting with some afternoon shade. If one wants to prune them to control size, it is best to do this after flowering, before new growth has commenced.